On Monday 17 November, Salford Business School (SBS) joined the Global Day of Action for Climate Justice by hosting a first-of-its-kind relay event exploring the urgent challenges of decarbonisation and the just transition.
Developed as part of the Global Environmental Justice Initiative and led by Dr Emma Roberts, Head of Law, the event brought together experts from Law and Business disciplines for an interdisciplinary dialogue.
The relay format – speakers passing the baton in a continuous flow of ideas – mirrored the collective effort needed to tackle the climate crisis. Conversations moved seamlessly from resource extraction and global supply chains to corporate governance, biodiversity, food systems and beyond, highlighting the complexity of climate justice.
Key contributions included:
- Dr Tracy Boahene, Lecturer in Law, opened with research on small-scale gold mining in Ghana, revealing how environmental policies can deepen inequalities if they ignore local livelihoods. Decarbonisation, she argued, must be a justice project attentive to global power dynamics.
- Dr Emma Roberts, Head of Law, examined the limits of environmental tort law in addressing climate harm, which is cumulative and intergenerational. She called for reimagining legal frameworks to better protect both people and the planet, and reflected on how legal education can prepare graduates for these challenges.
- Professor Pauline Deutz, Professor of Circular Economy and Sustainability, critiqued extended producer responsibility regulations, noting how well-intended policies can shift environmental burdens to countries with weaker protections. Her analysis urged accountability on a global scale.
- Dr Divya Patel, Lecturer in Business Strategy, explored the carbon impact of dietary choices, stressing that food decisions are tied to culture, identity and affordability. A socially grounded approach is essential for a legitimate just transition.
- Dr Azubuike Ozah, Salford’s Environmental Law specialist, revisited the landmark Nigerian case Gbemre v Shell, which established constitutional protections against gas flaring. He highlighted how current decarbonisation strategies in Nigeria now position natural gas as a transitional energy source, creating tensions between net zero commitments, economic policy and human rights. Drawing parallels with the UK’s plans for new small reactors at Wylfa, he reflected on the cultural and social risks of energy transitions, echoing earlier themes of displacement and justice.
- Dr Solmaz Rohani, Lecturer in Accounting, shifted focus to organisational practice, revealing how environmental accounting and sustainability reporting shape corporate behaviour and construct green identities. Climate transitions, she noted, are influenced not only by law and economy but by internal cultures and epistemologies.
- Dr Ashraful Alam, Associate Professor of Sustainability, closed the academic sessions by demonstrating that firms with stronger biodiversity practices are less prone to financial distress and market volatility. His analysis reinforced a central theme: environmental integrity and economic stability are fundamentally interdependent.
Student representatives also took part throughout the day, emphasising the importance of embedding climate justice within learning. Precious Ogwu reflected: “This relay brought together voices from across the School to look at decarbonisation not just as a technical goal, but as a question of justice. Being part of conversations that connect global issues with real policy and industry challenges strengthens our learning and shows how education can drive meaningful climate action.”
As the relay concluded, a strong sense of synergy emerged. While each paper spoke from a different disciplinary standpoint, they converged on several insights: decarbonisation is as much a social and cultural process as a technological one and interdisciplinary collaboration is essential rather than optional. The event reaffirmed a shared commitment to working across boundaries to address the complexity of the climate crisis.
Dr Emma Roberts said the event demonstrated the value of cross-disciplinary engagement: “Our speakers highlighted how law, business strategy and ethical leadership must work together if we are to reach net zero in ways that are fair. The relay created energy, connection and critical reflection, and we are looking forward to building on these discussions with further staff-student engagement.”
Looking ahead, Salford aims to deepen multidisciplinary collaborations and contribute again to this global initiative next year. A just transition requires more than policy change – it demands imagination, solidarity and shared commitment. The relay offered a glimpse of that collective effort, and the real work begins as we carry these ideas (and the baton!) forward.