Liv Yoon explores the lived experiences of 'Just Transition' in two communities (Tonawanda, NY and Parkland County, Alberta, Canada) at different stages of phasing out coal-fired power plants. As the main industry in both towns, the retirement of these plants has had community-wide ripple effects. As most of the literature on just transition largely remains theoretical, this ground-level look can offer a more nuanced understanding from the viewpoint of the direct stakeholders.
A core focus is on how equity configures in this transition, as well as the intersecting and compounding nature of climate change, pollution, health, and social inequities. In collaboration with the communities, Liv Yoon is producing short documentaries to make this knowledge more widely accessible. This project includes interviews with folks from a variety of groups, including the Clean Air Coalition of Western New York (CACWNY), the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL CIO), the Kenton Teachers Union, the Alberta Federation of Labour (AFL), the Economic Diversification Team at Parkland County, as well as members of both communities.
