Effective just transitions require locally driven solutions that prioritize inclusion, agency, and accountability, ensuring that communities, cities, and national policies align to create equitable and sustainable economic opportunities.
Addressing climate change and environmental challenges requires solutions that are locally grounded and tailored to meet the needs of workers, families, and communities. The Laudes Foundation, along with the Wallace Global Fund and Ford Foundation, studied 632 local initiatives and found that a one-size-fits-all approach does not work — effective transitions must be shaped by local contexts. Key to this effort is fostering inclusion, agency, and accountability, ensuring that marginalized communities have a voice in decision-making, the power to influence policies, and that all stakeholders are held responsible for equitable outcomes.
Several initiatives demonstrate the impact of local action, such as the Green Consortium in Jharkhand, India, which has reskilled over 8,000 coal workers for green jobs by redirecting existing government funds. Similarly, cities play a crucial role in just transitions by implementing locally driven sustainability strategies. For example, C40 Cities developed a toolkit for mayors to support urban transformation, highlighting how New Delhi successfully phased out diesel generators without raising electricity costs by engaging affected communities in decision-making. These cases show that balancing environmental goals with economic and social equity requires direct community participation.
At the national level, organizations like the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) ensure that just transition strategies reflect workers’ realities. The ITUC’s Just Transition Centre has helped incorporate labor concerns into national climate policies, earning recognition for bridging the gap between policy and lived experience. While local action is essential, broader global factors—such as trade policies and financial systems—also influence the success of just transitions. To achieve meaningful progress, governments, businesses, investors, and philanthropists must collaborate to develop policies, unlock funding, and drive systemic change rooted in equity and sustainability.
FULL STORY: Why a local approach to the just transition is so important — and so effective
Equity in Energy: Protecting Livelihoods and Restoring Communities
The transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy must be equitable, ensuring that workers receive support, communities are revitalized, and degraded lands are restored to create a more sustainable and inclusive future.
Just Transition: Bringing Equity to the Clean Energy Conversation
A new report from the Environmental Defense Fund offers a roadmap for countries, energy companies, and other stakeholders to navigate the complexities of transitioning to clean energy while ensuring equity at every step of the process.
Building a Cleaner Future: Financing the Coal-to-Clean Transition
The Coal-to-Clean Initiative is an effort to fund the early retirement of coal plants in emerging markets, urging public-private collaboration to achieve a just energy transition that limits global warming and supports sustainable growth.
National Parks Layoffs Will Cause Communities to Lose Billions
Thousands of essential park workers were laid off this week, just before the busy spring break season.
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A master-planned community north of Houston offers lessons on green infrastructure and resilient design, but falls short of its founder’s lofty affordability and walkability goals.
Delivering for America Plan Will Downgrade Mail Service in at Least 49.5 Percent of Zip Codes
Republican and Democrat lawmakers criticize the plan for its disproportionate negative impact on rural communities.
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Balancing Bombs and Butterflies: How the National Guard Protects a Rare Species
The National Guard at Fort Indiantown Gap uses GIS technology and land management strategies to balance military training with conservation efforts, ensuring the survival of the rare eastern regal fritillary butterfly.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
EMC Planning Group, Inc.
Planetizen
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Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service