Just Transitions at a Glance
As the climate crisis accelerates, countries are facing growing pressure to move toward cleaner, more resilient economies. While cutting emissions is essential, the way governments approach this shift has wide-sweeping implications for vulnerable communities. Our projects have repeatedly shown that without careful planning, transitions could deepen inequality, displace workers, and affect communities that rely on fossil fuels and other high-emission industries for employment and day-to-day life.
Just Transitions (JT) are at the core of managing the costs and benefits of this shift away from fossil fuels. From their inclusion in the Paris Agreement preamble (2015) to the more recent Just Energy Transition Partnerships (JETPs), Just Transitions have become an integral part of climate change mitigation, adaptation, and financing dialogues.
Just Transitions aren’t a one-size-fits-all solution. Our research under the South to South (S2S) initiative demonstrates that transitions in Vietnam’s coal-dependent regions will diverge sharply from changes within Bangladesh’s garment sector. However, the core principle guiding Just Transitions remains universal: climate action and equity should go hand-in-hand.
Due to the multilateral nature of climate negotiations, final agreements and decisions reached at COP and other platforms don’t necessarily align with the national contexts of individual countries. Evidence-based research and local case studies are crucial for identifying priorities, gaps, and recommendations for Just Transitions. But how can researchers, negotiators, and policymakers find common ground and share these sub-national findings?
Enter the Just Transition Work Programme
The Just Transition Work Programme (JTWP) was established at COP27 in 2022 and is intended to help countries design transition pathways that are both ambitious and fair. The Programme offers a platform for governments to exchange ideas. It is also open to civil society organisations admitted as observers before the UNFCCC, workers (through the intervention of admitted organisations like the International Trade Union Confederation and the International Labour Organization), and businesses that are part of the BINGO (business and Industry NGOs) constituency.
While broad strokes of the JTWP’s modalities were put in place in 2023, questions remain on what precisely should be included under the banner of the Programme and how to leverage the mandated biannual dialogues for action. That’s why, as part of the current phase of S2S, Climate Strategies is collaborating with partners to advance an ambitious Just Transition Work Programme.
Our work on this project has shown that reflecting the priorities of climate-vulnerable countries in the JTWP is critical for driving the systemic change required to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement. In order to reflect the needs of these countries, our research calls for adopting a broad, cross-cutting approach to Just Transitions. That is to say, one which looks beyond energy to include a range of sectors; integrates both mitigation and adaptation strategies; and enables genuine, inclusive participation from all affected communities, not just the workforce. In short – the approach must allow for multiple pathways and solutions while prioritising the needs of vulnerable regions, and communities.
In advance of the 3rd dialogue of the JTWP (22–23 May, Panama), we highlighted opportunities to integrate justice and equity into adaptation strategies. You can access our recommendations here.
Written by the Climate Strategies Secretariat.