Abstract:  In debates on energy transition governance, heating transitions are a major factor; yet limited attention has been paid to the various justice dimensions involved. To address this gap, we combine literature on multi-stakeholder governance in heating transitions with energy justice, drawing on insights from an empirical case study of the post-industrial city of Rotterdam to identify three solidarity modalities (institutional, economic, and civic) to analyze cooperation drivers within, and governance limitations hindering, just heating transitions. Our findings reveal how collective action problems related to just heating transitions (strict climate goals, a shortage of installers, and willingness to address energy poverty) drive cooperation through solidarity initiatives by all actors. However, coordination failures, distributional conflicts, and institutional rigidity present governance challenges hindering implementation of just heating transitions, suggesting that solidarity alone is insufficient to achieve results. Nonetheless, we argue that iterated practices of solidarity together with institutional coordination can present cooperation opportunities to aid self-organization in just-heating transition governance.

Keywords:  energy poverty; heating infrastructure; just energy transitions; multi‐stakeholder governance; post‐industrial cities; solidarity

Published:   6 August 2026

Issue:   Vol 14 (2026): The Politics of Resilient and Just Energy Transitions: Institutions and Critical Infrastructure (In Progress)