We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Just Transition on air quality governance: a case study of heavy-duty diesel truck protests in Taiwan.
- Authors
Walther, David; Chou, Kuei-Tien
- Abstract
Just Transitions are gaining attention in environmental research, and most studies have focused on climate change; however, the insights from this work may be usefully applied to the rarely discussed area in just transition studies. This article uses traditional dimensions of environmental and social justice, such as distributive, procedural, recognition, and restorative justice, to understand why heavy-duty diesel truck drivers fought back against stricter air pollution regulations while demanding destigmatization. The protest resulted in policy failure, and Taiwan's transition to cleaner, newer diesel trucks were halted. This study finds that the key social contextual factor in Taiwan's transportation industry was the labor relations of license-leasing. The drivers' protest began with a lack of procedural justice, and communication occurred only after the law was passed. There was insufficient regard for procedural justice, and although the drivers were concerned, the new rule would significantly impact their right to work and life. Furthermore, the drivers felt disrespected and even carried the stigma of creating environmental pollution. The article assumes that the results should be different if the governance mechanism can handle the key factor in a social context and make appropriate arrangements for the four dimensions of Just Transition. This argument may be relevant for other countries looking to transition from older diesel vehicles to cleaner vehicles through Just Transition.
- Subjects
TAIWAN; HEAVY duty trucks; DIESEL trucks; AIR quality; ENVIRONMENTAL research; POLLUTION; RIGHT to work (Human rights); TRUCK fuel consumption
- Publication
Sustainability Science, 2023, Vol 18, Issue 5, p2087
- ISSN
1862-4065
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s11625-023-01311-6