Trade unions and environmental movements have long been diametrically opposed. Recently, the movements seem to have found each other in the Just Transition concept. Although Just Transition is often presented as a consensus for "leaving no one behind" in the energy transition, Just Transition is nevertheless not as uncontroversial as is often suggested. Indeed, Just Transition is characterised by tensions between environmental and equity objectives. However, little empirical research exists on the contested politics of Just Transition. Therefore, this study examines how Belgian trade unions and environmental movements interpret Just Transition in the energy-intensive industry and how this
translates into cooperation or conflict at the plant and institutional levels. It also examines the conditions for an alliance. This research project builds on the emerging field of Environmental Labour Studies, that studies the relationship between environment and labour and the development of environmental trade union policies. It combines Environmnetal Labour Studies with a constructivist
approach to Social Movement Theory, in order to analyse the engagement between labour and environmental movements and the discursive struggles around the concept of Just Transition.