Tales of a Just Transition: Nia & Lifelong Learning

Abstract

Decades ago, the American people woke up to the reality of the climate crisis and decided to build a future worth living. Soon enough, we reached net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by restructuring our economy to work for people: we established access to clean, safe housing and quality healthcare as human rights; we guaranteed good-paying, low-carbon jobs to all who wanted them; we secured lifelong access to education for all people who wanted it, and so much more. Today, life after the Just Transition looks different, but similar too. This holds true in Zion, a community in a familiar American city, and Zion’s New University, or “the New” as Zion’s residents call it. Let’s take a closer look at Zion and the New in 2054 and follow a day in the life of one particular student, Nia Greene.