Larry Saha Room (HA 2175). Presented by Dr John Barry.

The inevitability of a transition to a low carbon, sustainable economy and society has recently led to arguments for the necessity of ensuring this transition is a 'just' one, that is, links the tackling of injustice and socio-economic inequalities to the achievement of sustainability.  This presentation will explore some recent debates about a 'just transition' within sustainability politics focus on the following:
1.link arguments for a 'just transition' to long-standing green arguments against orthodox economic growth dating back to the 'limits to growth' thesis of the early 1970s; 2. demonstrate how an egalitarian focus is an inevitable focus of a 'post-growth' perspective; 3. outline some recent work detailing arguments and evidence for the necessity of a 'post-growth' perspective in developed countries in terms of improving human well-being; 4. conclude with a consideration of some practical and strategic issues facing a 'post-growth' political and economic vision.

John Barry is Reader in the School of Politics, International Studies and Philosophy at Queen’s University Belfast, and Visiting Fellow in the Centre for Deliberative Democracy and Global Governance at the ANU.