From Policy to People: How to Make Just Transition Work

As a corner stone to support regions affected by the transition to a climate-neutral Europe, the Just Transition Fund was adopted as a funding instrument in 2021. The current implementation period for these support measures runs until 2027. It remains unclear how the instrument will continue beyond that point. 

Nevelina Pachova, Research Fellow at RMIT Europe, shared insights from the project “BOLSTER” on stakeholder engagement within the implementation of the Just Transition Fund. The EU-funded research project explored pathways for advancing a just decarbonisation transition. It examined how European Green Deal policies affect marginalized communities in seven just transition regions. 
They found that priorities for just transition processes differ significantly between those expressed by marginalized communities and those reflected in transition policies and plans. To close such gaps and create synergies, „BOLSTER“ developed and tested participatory governance tools and approaches, which support local actors in their transition. 
Nevelina Pachova stressed that top-down implementation is not enough. Bottom-up processes are just as important. Instead of translating policies to the local level, more bottom-up creation and experimentation of possible pathways in communities should be recognised, enabled and included in higher levels of policy making.  

“So far, the focus has been on communicating the need for a climate transitions to the people. Going forward, we need to reverse the perspective and translate the experiences and priorities of communities on the ground into higher-level policy processes.” 

Nevelina Pachova, RMIT Europe Research Fellow

Speaking from Experience: Sustainable Solutions Need Supportive Structures  

To engage different stakeholders and foster collaboration, finding common ground is key according to Tibor Meszmann, senior researcher at Central European Labour Studies Institute from EUKI project EcoMobility. In the automotive regions of Czechia, Hungary Poland and Slovakia, the project brings together trade unions, employers, and policymakers to co-create actionable strategies for sustainable mobility. By providing tools for strategy development and stakeholder dialoges EcoMobility empowers local actors to shape the just transition in their region.

In Mr. Meszmann’s professional experience, identifying a tangible problem for stakeholders on the ground and exchanging perspectives to formulate shared solutions is likely to show success. He shared this ongoing case: from three Hungarian cities workers commuted by motorised car to a new electric car production plant due to a lack of public transport infrastructure in Hungary. 
Investments in green sectors and infrastructural development need to go hand in hand, he emphasized. It is essential to involve regional actors who are often not yet at the centre of decision-making. By focusing on local realities rather than abstract policy discussions, these stakeholders can be empowered and encouraged to take action. In many cases, stakeholders feel isolated with their challenges. Therefore, the creation of spaces for exchange and synergies can accelerate development. Formats like roundtables can assist stakeholders in the development and articulation of effective proposals, he recommended. 

Ajla Sijaric doubled down on this sentiment: supporting activities for a just transition only succeed paired with effective communication. Through EUKI-funded Green Horizon project, led by CENER21, two coal-rich municipalities in Bosnia & Herzegovina and Kosovo are being guided through a comprehensive just transition process. Many of the project’s target groups have no prior knowledge of just transition. Therefore, it takes time as well as tailored approaches to reach a diverse range of stakeholders, like local municipal representatives, small or medium-sized enterprises or youth. To engage with young women in one municipality, Green Horizon installed an entrepreneurship academy. Green Horizon learned that communication is not only about mere visibility. Communication means legitimacy, ownership and trust.  

“Without engagement, just transition remains a policy concept. With engagement, it becomes a shared local project.” 

Ajla Sijaric, Project Coordinator, CENER21

Challenges and Pathways for Achieving Lasting Impact 

Approaches when engaging with stakeholders within just transition processes should be adjusted to the target group. Ajla Sijaric explained that reaching small businesses and gaining their interest had been a particular challenge. Due to their limited time and capacities, SMEs often only become active when external mandatory regulations or penalties reach them, as in the case of CBAM regulations. A useful tool for engagement was the support of local municipal representatives. Using their communication channels or reaching out to business owners directly created a more formal context. Which helped to establish contact.
Another significant challenge can be the beginning of a project, when suitable connections to stakeholders are not yet established. Once a link of connection is found, Mr Meszmann said, you can proceed from there. Engagement frequently increases over time as the number of stakeholders rises. 

„Engagement can have a snowball effect, but you have to know where the snow is first. “ 

Tibor Meszmann, Senior Researcher, CELSI

After successfully reaching out to stakeholders the question remains how to secure a sustainable cooperation with lasting impacts. One clear takeaway that emerged from the discussion: impact needs to be cultivated over time, given the necessity of fostering trustful connections. This stands in contrast to the time and funding constraints of project-based work. In order to circumvent these issues, local stakeholders in the Green Horizon project acquire the necessary knowledge and skills to act autonomously while building on newly established structures such as green businesses. 

The fact that the future of the European Just Transition Fund is still up in the air creates a lot of uncertainty. Therefore it is even more important that all three projects accelerate the Just Transition day by day. Empowered and engaged local and regional stakeholders play an important role in just transition processes, especially when their voices are heard.