Just Transitions - a Global Exploration: Malaysia

Dr Jiachen Shi speaks to Dr Clare Richardson‑Barlow about Malaysia’s evolving approach to a just energy transition. In this episode, they discuss how Malaysia frames its energy transition through economic growth and the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR), and examine why labour voices - particularly trade unions - remain limited in shaping policy. The conversation highlights emerging opportunities, key institutional challenges, and what more inclusive worker participation would require as Malaysia moves toward a low‑carbon future.

This project is funded by the Hans Böckler Foundation – Just Transition: Aktivitäten im internationalen Vergleich 2021-582-2.

Visit the project webpage.

This podcast episode was recorded remotely in March 2026. If you would like to get in touch regarding this podcast, please contact research.lubs@leeds.ac.uk. A transcript of this episode is available.

About the speakers:

Dr Jiachen Shi is a Lecturer in Management Consulting and HRM at Leeds University Business School and a member of the Centre for Employment Relations, Innovation and Change (CERIC). Her research focuses on the role of the Chinese state in shaping economic and labour transitions, examining how climate and energy transition policies and labour institutions interact within national planning frameworks to shape China’s approach to a just transition.

Dr Clare Richardson-Barlow is a Lecturer in the Global Politics of China in the School of Politics and International Studies. She is also co-chair of the University of Leeds’ Just Transition Taskforce and Co-Director of International in the School of Politics and International Studies at the University of Leeds. Her research focuses on industrial decarbonisation and just transitions and China’s role in these processes.