Scaling just transitions: Legitimation strategies in coal phase-out commissions in Canada and Germany

Climate change mitigation triggers both spatial and moral complexities, as demonstrated by the contentious issue of phasing out coal power. The success Paris Agreement depends on, among other things, acceptability climate policy measures thus, from a perspective, on ability to organize transition processes in ways that do not damage livelihoods workers, communities, entire regions. Spatially, unequal distributions burdens advantages respective provoke struggles over their legitimacy contexts ranging local global. Phasing mining power generation capacity thus structural transformation cut across geographic scales, vertical levels politics, well sectoral boundaries. In light urgency crisis, countries such Canada Germany have established stakeholder-driven commissions develop proposals for just pathways production consumption. We argue these are arenas which spatial, moral, (re-)negotiations materialize. Comparing Canadian German stakeholder through expert interviews with members, article traces how governments use legitimize policies. Expectations at different actors turn place commission members under pressure justify involvement outputs commissions. find task force showed greater commitment collecting reflecting needs communities its regions, communicating federal government. commission, legitimation strategies focused mainly broad representation interests, government spending affected industries. case, compromise was reached satisfied most, but all, diverse requirements.