The UN Climate Change Secretariat has published a technical paper that outlines the need to integrate the principles of a just transition into national climate strategies.
The paper, entitled Just Transitions in National Climate Frameworks and Climate Policies: Experiences in Alignment, Planning and Progress Tracking, was developed by the Katowice Committee of Experts on the Impacts of the Implementation of Response Measures (KCI).
It tracks progress on just transitions globally, exploring how countries are implementing just transition principles into their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and Long-Term Low Emissions Development Strategies (LT-LEDS).
‘Intrinsically linked’
“Climate action and just transition pathways are not separate endeavours but intrinsically linked components of broader sustainable development goals,” UN Climate Change executive secretary Simon Stiell commented in the report.
The just transition refers to managing the shift to a low-emission economy in a way that is inclusive, equitable, and socially responsible, in order to ensure that workers, communities, and vulnerable groups are not left behind.
Practical integration
As the report notes, its practical integration into national climate planning currently remains ‘uneven’, with just 26% of NDCs explicitly referencing the just transition, and few elaborating on this beyond a basic mention.
In the case of LT-LEDS, 65% refer to it more directly, with varying levels of depth.
The report also introduces a monitoring framework for the just transition, which will aim to support governments and private companies in evaluating their progress across the four dimensions: distributional, procedural, restorative and recognition.
‘The report addresses a key gap in climate policy planning, where socioeconomic impacts and just transition considerations often remain secondary due to limited capacity and resources,’ UN Climate Change said. ‘Many countries continue to face challenges in translating just transition principles into concrete policies that are inclusive, actionable, and measurable.’ Read more here.
Read more: World Benchmarking Alliance’s Vicky Sins on how businesses can drive a ‘just transition’
![[Photo: Simon Stiell at the 2026 Green Growth Summit, © Michael Chia]](https://sustainabilityonline.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/55156266128_79cd8256de_k.jpg)
