To achieve the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C goal, countries’ emission reduction efforts are entering, or will soon enter, “uncharted waters”. While reducing emissions, governments must also address the negative socioeconomic problems induced by climate action. These issues include the decline of carbon-intensive industries, increased unemployment risks, and challenges related to regional economic development, social equity, and people’s livelihoods. However, external pressures such as the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, subsequent economic challenges, and energy crises triggered by geopolitical conflicts not only threaten to dampen the ambition of national governments to cut emissions, but also undermine their capacity to resolve the socioeconomic problems caused by climate action. In such a challenging context, the fairness and inclusiveness of the low-carbon transition are more important than ever.

To explore how countries can turn the concept of a “just transition” into concrete implementation policies at the national level, World Resources Institute (WRI) has published “From Concept to Application: Analyzing Just Transition in the Core Climate Documents of 80 Paris Agreement Parties” (hereinafter referred to as “the Report”). Centered on three core research questions, the Report provides an in-depth analysis of relevant policy documents from 80 parties that mention “just transition,” examines the policy implications of just transition, distills the policy principles, and investigates how just transition can be integrated with and mutually reinforce existing climate actions.

The Report aims to help countries better understand the concept and policy implications of just transition, hereby supporting more effective, orderly national climate actions that deliver multiple benefits.