Just Transition

Just Transition

Introduction

Climate Action Plan 23 identifies that delivering a just transition is based on recognising the transformational level of change required to meet these targets and having a shared understanding that the transition is fair, just, and that the costs are shared equitably. Our climate policies should, therefore, seek to protect the most vulnerable.

The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 situates a just transition to a climate neutral economy as a process, within the wider statutory framework of climate action, which endeavours, in so far as is practicable, to maximise employment opportunities, and support persons and communities that may be negatively affected by the transition.

Climate Action Plan  2023 sets out a Just Transition Framework to guide our approach to implementing climate action policies. The framework consists of four principles:

1. An integrated, structured, and evidence-based approach to identify and plan our response to just transition requirements.
2. People are equipped with the right skills to be able to participate in and benefit from the future net zero economy.
3. The costs are shared so that the impact is equitable and existing inequalities are not exacerbated.
4. Social dialogue to ensure impacted citizens and communities are empowered and are core to the transition process.’

The instruments, policies and regulations deployed in the delivery of our climate policy will need to align with these four principles, and ensure they are taken into account in their design and implementation. Ministers and Departments will therefore be asked to ensure consideration is given to this Just Transition Framework in the implementation of their climate action policies.  Examples of where we are already integrating just transition considerations into our policy development through CAP23 include:

• Integration of community participation mechanisms in the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme, a package of enabling support (including technical, financial, and legal services) that has been rolled out to assist communities in navigating renewable electricity challenges;
• Provision of 100% grant funding for retrofitting to lower income households under the Warmer Homes Scheme;
• The Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Programme, which aims to enhance existing services and introduce new public transport services to improve the alternatives to private car use.

The Government has also committed to the establishment of a Just Transition Commission to provide advice in this area and to ensure that there is an integrated approach that fully embeds the just transition principles into the delivery of climate policy.

It is proposed that Commission be tasked with four related functions, considering the key elements of the Just Transition framework:

• Monitoring progress in relation to the implementation of the just transition framework and preparing reports and recommendations to Government and the Oireachtas.
• Commissioning research, to examine which sectors of the economy are most likely to experience disruption as a result of the transition, as well as exploring solutions to mitigate against these challenges |.
• Providing advice and support to the Minister and Government in relation to social dialogue in a manner which effectively integrate just transition considerations.
• Examining specific just transition issues, providing recommendations to Government on potential solutions to mitigate against these challenges.