Countries Turn Just Transition Pledges Into Laws, Policies and Court Decisions
Countries are increasingly moving beyond promises on a “just transition” by embedding the principle in laws, public policies, institutions and court decisions, according to a new report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
The report, ‘No Transition Without Justice: Strengthening Environmental Rule of Law for People and Planet,’ was released ahead of the first anniversary of the International Court of Justice’s advisory opinion on states’ obligations regarding climate change.
It argues that the transition to low-carbon and climate-resilient economies must be guided by environmental rule of law, ensuring that climate action is fair, inclusive and grounded in human rights.
UNEP defines a just transition as a fair and inclusive transformation towards sustainable and resilient economies and societies. The approach takes into account the interests of workers, Indigenous Peoples and other affected communities across sectors including energy, mining, construction and agriculture.
It also considers the longer-term impacts of climate policies, including the need to address past harms and protect the rights of future generations.
The question of how countries can reduce greenhouse gas emissions without leaving people, communities and economies behind remains a major issue in international climate negotiations, including discussions at the recent Bonn Climate Meeting.
“The design and implementation of transition processes will determine whether there is a transition at all,” said Patricia Kameri-Mbote, Director of UNEP’s Law Division.
“Just transition is a test of governance, legitimacy, and the rule of law. Fair, inclusive, and rights-based transitions are what make environmental action durable.”
From commitments to implementation
The report notes that governments are increasingly incorporating just transition into their national climate strategies.
As of 2024, 67 Parties to the Paris Agreement had explicitly referenced just transition in their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), the climate action plans through which countries outline their efforts to address climate change.
However, UNEP cautions that there is no single model for implementing a just transition. The approach must reflect the economic, social and environmental circumstances of individual countries and communities.
The report identifies four key pathways through which environmental rule of law can help turn just transition commitments into action: laws and institutions, civic engagement, access to justice, and finance.
These pathways are illustrated through examples from countries including Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Morocco, Peru, South Africa, Tuvalu and the United Kingdom, as well as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and several European Union countries.
In Slovenia, for example, transition planning includes measures aimed at preventing energy and mobility poverty, while municipalities play a role in implementing policies at the local level.
In South Korea, Seoul has applied transition principles to its urban energy system by bringing together citizens, civil society groups, industry representatives and government officials to help shape city-level energy efficiency and emissions-reduction plans.
Justice at the centre of climate action
UNEP says these examples demonstrate that environmental rule of law can provide a framework for ensuring that climate policies are not only environmentally effective but also socially fair.
The report comes as governments continue to grapple with the economic and social consequences of shifting away from fossil fuels and other high-emission activities.
For UNEP, ensuring that affected communities have opportunities to participate in decision-making, access justice and benefit from adequate financing will be critical to making the transition sustainable.
The agency said it will continue supporting countries in developing and implementing just transition policies and plans, in line with decisions adopted at the UN Climate Change Conference in Belém, COP30.
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