The Place-based Climate Action Network (PCAN) is a tri-city project involving a range of decision-makers, researchers and communities of interest in Belfast, Leeds and Edinburgh. The project has the central aim of translating climate policy into action ‘on the ground’ to bring about transformative change.

As part of PCAN, in early 2020 Queen’s University and Belfast City Council launched the Belfast Climate Commission, the stated purpose of which is to drive place-based climate action in order that Belfast plays its part in achieving the UK Government’s target of net-zero emissions by 2050. Trademark sits on a number of working groups attached to the Belfast Climate Commission.

We have also joined forces with Belfast City Council in an outreach and engagement programme to build support for the Just Transition among trade unions, communities, local government, political parties and policy-makers across the city. This involves a process of one-to-one stakeholder engagement and a popular education programme designed to bring the ideas behind the Just Transition into workplaces and communities.

In parallel with the PCAN project, Trademark has forged a partnership with the Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung (London) to undertake a parallel outreach and engagement programme across Ireland.

Working in collaboration with trade unions, civil society and the political left, we have embarked upon an education campaign designed to popularise the Just Transition in the employment sectors and communities that stand to be most affected by the shift towards a low-carbon economy, and encourage a positive feedback loop of critical engagement with associated policy agendas.

Through this work we aim to help promote effective alliances for a Just Transition across the island and generate an impetus for transformative change from below.