Impact Trust • Working glossary

Just transition

Changing to a low-carbon economy without leaving workers and communities stranded.

Details

Our Take
The principle is hard to argue with; the contest is over what 'just' means and who decides. In practice, just transition agendas are often designed by the same institutions that created the injustice. Can be grounded with concrete examples (coal communities, fossil fuel workers, industrial regions).
Examples of Use
Labour, climate justice, multilaterals
Synonyms/Variants
Fair transition; Equitable decarbonisation, Green transition (broader, less justice-focused)
Typical everyday wording
Changing to a green economy without leaving people behind