Theoretical lecture by Femke van Noorloos: “Urban Fair Transitions: LANDac Summer School, July 10 2024

On July 10, Femke van Noorloos presented her insights on “Urban Fair Transitions” at a LANDac Summer School. The Summer School focused on social justice within global environmental transitions and looked at the pressing reality that climate initiatives, designed for global benefits, often impose disproportionate burdens on marginalized communities. This is a reminder of the injustice embedded in certain climate policies, especially as investments and land-use regulations continue to undermine the rights of vulnerable populations, both in the Global South and within marginalized communities in the Global North.

Addressing these inequities, the course brought together experts in land governance, advocacy, and grassroots activism to examine strategies for protecting rights, lands, and resources through equitable reforms. Collaborating with scholars from diverse disciplines—Geosciences, Humanities, Law, and Economics— the Summer School emphasized a decolonial, more-than-human approach to fair transitions, proposing pathways to strengthen solidarity and secure just, inclusive futures for all.