Tackling Climate Injustice and Inequality

Driving Sustainable Development Through Green Political Economy

Queen’s University Belfast is at the forefront of research in green political economy and sustainable development, addressing the critical need for radical structural economic, governance and social shifts to tackle the interlined climate, environmental and social crises of the 21st century. Researchers at Queen’s, including Professor John Barry, are exploring science and justice based analyses of the causes, consequences and solution to the polycrisis humanity faces and the need for urgent just transformations across all sectors of society and the economy for low-carbon futures, new economic structures and perceptions of the ‘good life’, impacting policy, community initiatives, addressing global injustices, intergenerational obligations to future generations and the rights of the more than human world.

Research Challenge

Addressing Climate Challenges with Justice-Centred Solutions

The challenge of the climate crisis requires innovative approaches to governance, economics, and societal organisation, as UN General Secretary Antonio Guterres has noted we need climate action in ‘everything, everywhere all at once’. Ensuring that transitions to sustainable systems do not exacerbate existing class, racial, gender injustices and the colonial legacies of inequalities globally are major issues. While many frameworks for addressing climate change focus on technological or market-based solutions, these often neglect the need for radical and large-scale structural change (especially in the economy) grounded in justice.

Researchers at Queen’s are tackling this challenge by developing interdisciplinary strategies to integrate environmental sustainability with social equity, that might be summarised as requiring justice-based sustainability transformations to be grounded in principles and practices of democratisation, decarbonisation, decommodification and decolonisation.

Our Approach

Pioneering Research on Just Transitions and Energy Democracy

This research is centred on the principles of green political economy, emphasising the integration of ecology, economics, and ethics. A key focus is the concept of “just transitions/transformations,” ensuring that the move to sustainable systems is fair and inclusive.

Signature Projects:

The Belfast Climate Commission: Co-chaired by Professor John Barry, this initiative focuses on local climate governance, empowering communities to develop just and sustainable climate policies.
Community-Owned Renewable Energy: Investigating the potential for cooperative, community-led renewable energy projects to reduce emissions and enhance the democratisation of the means of energy production.
Post-Growth Economies: Researching alternative economic models that prioritize human well-being and ecological balance over traditional GDP measured growth metrics.
Climate Justice Frameworks: Collaborating with policymakers and civil society organizations to design equitable strategies for addressing climate impacts.

Professor Barry’s contributions in these areas include advancing theoretical frameworks, publishing influential works such as The Politics of Actually Existing Unsustainability, and engaging directly with policymakers and community groups to implement actionable strategies. The work embodies an interdisciplinary approach, drawing on political science, sociology, and environmental studies.

The role and responsibility of the University in the context of the planetary crisis:

As well as producing academic research looking at how and in what ways universities need themselves to transform to be ‘fit for future purpose’ (in terms of teaching, research, outreach and engagement and on-site operations), Professor Barry has with other academic colleagues founded the recently launched Climate Justice Universities Union Ireland.

“A sustainable future requires not only technological innovation but a reimagining of societal systems to ensure equity and justice for all. A sustainable and regenerative society is not a ‘green’ or ‘low carbon’ version of our current unsustainable one, but a radical transformation to a different type of society”.

- Professor John Barry

What impact did it make?

Real-World Impact of Queen’s Research

Research from Queen’s University Belfast has achieved significant impact in multiple domains:

1. Informing Policy and Governance
Played a key role in shaping climate, environmental and just transition frameworks in Northern Ireland and other regions. Provided critical insights for global organisations, such as the United Nations and European Union, on integrating climate justice into sustainable development strategies.

2. Empowering Communities
Supported grassroots initiatives, including community climate action, climate mobilisations, energy projects, enhancing local resilience and reducing energy poverty.
Worked with marginalised populations to ensure inclusivity in sustainability and climate adaptation policies, particularly related to intersecting dimensions of in/justice across colonialisation/imperialism, class, race, gender and physical ability.

3. Shaping Public Narratives
Findings from Queen’s researchers, including Professor Barry, have been disseminated through academic publications, media, social media platforms and international conferences, influencing academic, policy and public discourse on un/sustainability and in/justice.