Researchers from the University of Aberdeen's Just Transition Lab (JTL) will join national leaders, community voices and innovators at a landmark event convened by Scotland's Just Transition Commission to explore how Scotland can build a resilient, low-carbon economy that is fair for all.
Taking place at Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh on October 29, the Just Transition Summit 2025 will feature keynote speeches from First Minister John Swinney, UK Energy Minister Michael Shanks and Climate Change Committee Chair Nigel Topping, alongside a youth-led panel and open dialogue sessions focused on equity, opportunity and climate justice.
The summit aims to foster collaboration across sectors and communities, ensuring that the costs and benefits of Scotland’s transition to a net-zero future are shared fairly.
Professor Tavis Potts, from the School of Geosciences, and Dr Daria Shapovalova, director of the Centre for Energy Law, will be showcasing the work of the University’s Just Transition Lab in Scotland and beyond.
An interdisciplinary group of researchers spanning the Business School, School of Engineering, School of Geosciences, School of Law, the School of Social Sciences and the School of Biological Sciences, the Lab's researchers work at the forefront of Just Transition challenges, employing action and participatory research to facilitate insightful policy analysis and engagement with key stakeholders across civil society, government and business.
Professor Potts said: "We’re proud in the Just Transition Lab to contribute to this national conversation and the pioneering work of the Just Transition Commission, who we’ve been involved with for a number of years.
“Our research is rooted in the belief that climate action must be inclusive, equitable and grounded in real-world solutions that work for people and places. The transition needs to address societies’ urgent priorities in the cost of living, decent jobs, and healthy and sustainable communities and we must get coordinated regional planning in place along with delivery.”
“The Just Transition Lab is engaged in multiple research projects working in partnership with policymakers, industry and government, all aimed at putting just transition into action across the country as we make the shift to a low-carbon economy,” added Dr Shapovalova.
One of the features of the Lab’s interdisciplinary approach is its exploration of the energy transition from a broad, whole-systems perspective. It addresses a range of societal challenges related to labour and housing markets, inequalities, social cohesion, political processes and public health, both as indicators and aspects of the wider transition process. Recent projects and outputs that the JTL will be showcasing at the summit include:
- The UKRI JUST-Systems project that is working with five UK regions to develop whole systems approaches to the delivery of a just transition with people at the centre of change
- UKRI TRANSECTS project that is looking at the dynamics of energy transitions in coastal and maritime industries and communities
- Measuring a Just Transition work showcases a practical example of providing a tangible translation of Just Transition principles into quantitative and qualitative data indicators
- Just Transition Communities project, funded by the Scottish Government, engages directly with communities across the north-east to co-create a vision for a future region
The Lab also delivered the Regional Planning for a Just Transition report for the Just Transition Commission.