Expertise
Energy transitionImpact
Clarity on how to plan for a just coal-to-clean energy transition.Image
Just transition
There is currently no universally agreed definition for a just transition. Its application will also vary across contexts. At the Carbon Trust, we follow the definition. They describe a just transition as a process that decarbonises the economy in a way that is as fair and inclusive as possible. A just transition prioritises local socioeconomic opportunities and decent livelihoods while minimising the risks to affected groups. A just transition requires inclusive and transparent social dialogue, robust governance, and support for impacted workers and communities.Solution
Breaking down the task of planning a transition away from coal by building up two frameworks
In the first stage of the transition journey, countries should define their coal phase-out targets. During this stage, it is essential to assess the role of coal in the region’s energy system to determine how critical coal-fired power plants are in maintaining energy security. Key decision-makers can then begin to identify the gaps in energy supply that need to be addressed. To help them balance environmental, health and efficiency considerations against the need for job security and workers’ rights in this stage, the Carbon Trust built upon its previous work. We:Discover the two frameworks and guidance in our report ‘Supporting a rapid, just and equitable transition away from coal.’
*Based on calculations by the Carbon Trust.Impact
Accelerating a coal transition that is fair and equitable
The coal transition is a long process that requires planning, unlocking finance and piloting financing mechanisms.These frameworks can support decision-makers across countries to plan for the coal-to-clean energy transition. If implemented, they aim to:A scalable building block for phasing down coal
Every country will have a different transition journey. A credible just energy transition must be designed with the local context in mind. These frameworks have been developed with a level of flexibility so that countries in the early stages of phasing out coal can adopt and tailor these frameworks to their needs. Following this project, the Carbon Trust has been commissioned to tailor the frameworks for application to South Africa, Pakistan, and Kazakhstan.
We want to thank the for helping develop this project. Similarly, we would like to acknowledge the support from our partner for providing the majority of the data for Odisha’s coal fleet, which comes from their Coal Asset Transition (CAT) Tool.