"Just transition has historically been associated with the environmental transition, initially with sectors such as logging and chemicals and subsequently with energy and climate change. More recently, the concept has expanded further to include manufacturing, Industry 4.0, food and biodiversity (TUCA 2020; Carrau, Forero and De Wel 2020; ETUI and ETUC 2021). In its general parameters this broadening is consistent with the International Labour Organization's Guidelines for a Just Transition Towards Environmentally Sustainable Economies and Societies for All (ILO 2015). Having said this and given the current situation with COVID, what would a just health transition look like? How would it compare to a just energy/climate transition? How can a “just transition for all” as outlined by the ILO (2015) and others be operationalized and implemented in practice? Can we overcome tensions between social and environmental objectives and adopt a combined eco-social approach towards transitions? Drawing on an analytical scheme developed by the Just Transition Research Collaborative (JTRC) (2018),1 we provide a holistic, socio-ecological examination of just transitions which we illustrate with examples from energy and health. While we suggest that a just health transition is necessary we also argue that it should not be separated from a broader, more comprehensive ecosocial transition project."

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