Climate action cannot move forward without just transition. In fact, ensuring a just transition is a sine qua non condition for a successful energy and ecological transition. Several countries have launched just transition processes and social dialogue around the ecological transition that have yielded very promising results. In this regard, with its work on just transition in coal regions and the existence of a Just Transition Institute, Spain is at the forefront of this movement.
At the same time, implementing a just transition is not easy. There are various types of obstacles to just transition, whether institutional, political, business, social or cultural. All governments, organisations and institutions that have implemented such a transition are aware of this and experience it on a daily basis.
Based on these practical experiences, this panel aims to share the knowledge accumulated and national progress made on just transition in different countries and continents, identify existing obstacles but also levers and good practices for just transition, and open up new horizons towards a new green social contract where energy transition and social justice go hand in hand.
The panel will gather the experiences of Spain, Germany, China and South Africa to extract lessons learned and share practical information for policymakers and civil society.
Objectives
- Exchange experiences and best practices on implementing just transition policies across different countries and sectors, highlighting lessons learned from Spain, Germany, China and South Africa.
- Identify key obstacles and enabling factors—institutional, political, business, social, and cultural—that influence the success of just transition processes.
- Explore ways for strengthening social dialogue and cooperation among governments, industry, and civil society to ensure that the ecological transition is both fair and inclusive.
- Promote a global vision for a new green social contract, where energy transition and social justice advance together as mutually reinforcing goals.
Moderator
Julián Martínez Bejarano. Just Transition Advisor. Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (Spain).
Speakers
- Maximiliano Proaño Ugalde. Subsecretary of Environment of Chile.
- Hu Min. Director of the Institute for Global Decarbonization Progress (iGDP) China.
- Julián Martínez Bejarano. Just Transition Advisor. Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (Spain).
- Julia Skorupska. Head of the Secretariat for the Powering Past Coal Alliance.