Decarbonisation, place attachment and agency: just transition in old industrial regions

Figures & data

Figure 1. The coupling of decarbonisation and just transition.

Table 1. Socio-psychological survey results.

	Strongly Agree	Agree	No opinion	Disagree	Strongly disagree
Port Talbot means a lot to me.	21	26	5
I am very attached to Port Talbot.	20	20	6	2
I identify strongly with Port Talbot.	21	17	7	3
I feel Port Talbot is a part of me	18	23	4	4
There is not much future for me in Port Talbot	5	5	10	17	10
I am extremely satisfied with my present home in Port Talbot	15	16	8	5	4
My family is very close-knit and I would be unhappy if I could not see them	17	17	4	7	3
I can deal with whatever comes.	12	28	9	3	1
The environmental benefits of decarbonisation are greater than the damage	16	15	11	5	4
Our region faces greater losses than gains as a result of decarbonisation	8	11	12	10	9
Judging its benefits and costs, decarbonisation is a fair process for the people living in this region	6	14	19	3	6
It is likely that I will move from my region during the next 2 years.	2	2	7	20	21
I believe that I cannot do anything to stop this process of decarbonisation	6	13	26	4	1
In my region there will be less unemployment than now during the coming 12 months.		8	12	18	11
I feel that the organisations behind the decarbonisation process in my region are very strong	1	5	34	9	2

Table 2. Summary of Responses to Socio-Cultural perspectives on deterritorialization and reterritorialisation.

	De-territorialisation	Re-territorialisation
Continuity	The continuity of the territory is challenged by the uncertainties associated with the future of the steel works, which remains a dominant economic actor.	Respondents highlighted numerous continuities with the past which are contributing to a re-territorialisation trend. These include Michael Sheen’s Passion and the strengthening of natural and cultural heritage assets, such as the regeneration of the Aberavon beachfront.
Distinctiveness	In many respects, the traits that are being challenged are the negative perceptions held by those external to the area.	Respondents highlight the strength of community identity and the significance of a self-narrated identity.
Self-narration	It may be too strong to speak of a crisis of the territory. The uncertainty facing the steel works has been present for many years, the energy transition and pressure for decarbonisation is simply another manisfestation of long-standing global trends.	Respondents highlighted numerous positive narratives of the territory, focusing on cultural and natural assets. Whilst these are ‘self-narrated’ in so far as they are held by the community, they are also being given voice by external actors (including national arts bodies). What is significant is that these bodies enable the self-narrated voices of local actors to be heard, rather than imposing a narrative upon them. The involvement of external actors not only enables the articulation of local voices it also helps others from outside of Port Talbot see the area for themselves and ‘see through the stigma’. The power of this self-narration is it also changes how those in Port Talbot ‘see ourselves’.
Self-governance	The territory is losing control of its own governance as the locus of power has been raised to a larger administrative unit (Neath Port Talbot County Borough), whilst there has been a centralisation of powers both by Welsh Government as part of the devolution of powers from Westminster and by the UK government.	A new locus of self-governance is emerging within the locality as the community rediscovers, reinvents and reasserts its identity. Local activism is on the rise with a strong community spirit.

Source: Authors’ analyses of respondent responses.