Just Transition Award
The Just Transition Award by the South Asia Just Transition Alliance (SAJTA) honors individuals and community leaders who demonstrate outstanding dedication to promoting fair, inclusive, and sustainable energy transitions across South Asia. The award recognizes those who defend communities and ecosystems from harmful industrial practices while championing renewable and people-centred solutions. It reflects SAJTA’s vision of a transition that upholds justice, dignity, and equal participation for all. The award demonstrates SAJTA’s core belief that a “Just Transition” is not only about shifting from fossil fuels to clean energy, but also about ensuring justice, dignity, and participation for workers, women, and local communities in the process of change.
Just Transition Award 2025
The Just Transition Award 2025, presented by SAJTA, celebrated the power of people and grassroots leadership across South Asia. Four courageous representatives from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka were honored for defending communities, ecosystems, and climate justice. This year, the award honored four groundbreaking campaigns that challenged destructive fossil fuel–based projects and promoted fair, inclusive, and sustainable energy transitions in the region:
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Bangladesh Working Group on Ecology and Development (BWGED) — for its historic campaign against the Matarbari 635 MW Coal Power Plant, symbolizing strong community resistance to fossil fuel expansion. Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ), Sri Lanka — for its bold advocacy opposing Adani’s Mannar Wind and Solar Power Plant and defending environmental integrity. Indus Consortium, Pakistan — for its inspiring rooftop solar campaign offering a people-centred alternative to fossil fuel dependency. Karbi Anglong Solar Power Project Affected People’s Rights Committee, India — for its determined resistance to the ADB-financed Assam Solar Project and protection of community rights.
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Tauhedul Islam Shahazada
Janaka Withanage
Hussain Jarwar
Vidya Dinker
This year, the awards were received by Tauhedul Islam Shahazada (Bangladesh), Janaka Withanage (Sri Lanka), Hussain Jarwar (Pakistan), and Vidya Dinker (India) on behalf of their communities—embodying the collective strength, resilience, and vision of South Asia’s people-led movements for a just transition.