Moral rifts in the coal phase-out—how mayors shape distributive and recognition-based dimensions of a just transition in Lusatia

Transitions towards low-carbon societies trigger renegotiations of justice concerns in regions that have to abandon unsustainable, fossil-based production patterns. In these transition regions, tensions may appear between inner- and supra-regional claims on the one hand, recognition-based distributional other. Intermediary actors such as municipal politicians navigate spatial moral tensions. Based qualitative data generated German lignite-mining region Lusatia, ‘moral rifts’ are reconstructed shape local perceptions justice. These rifts help elucidate how reconciliation this proves be difficult despite considerable redistributive efforts. Unless patterns misrecognition adequately addressed, prospects for a successful transformation remain limited.