Europe is entering a decisive moment in how it confronts the climate emergency. As the consequences of global warming intensify, the way we design and deliver the green transition will define the future of our societies. Yet while Europe speaks of climate ambition, it has yet to ensure that this transition is genuinely fair for everyone.
This policy paper examines why this matters now. The climate crisis is no longer abstract. 2024 was the hottest year ever recorded, and each of the past ten years has broken new temperature records. Europeans feel the impact on their health, their safety, and their daily lives. But despite the urgency and despite the appointment of Teresa Ribera as Executive Vice President for a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition, the EU still lacks a coherent, binding approach to a just transition. Current EU instruments remain fragmented and voluntary, and most Member States’ National Energy and Climate Plans reveal weak or incomplete strategies to protect people through the green shift.
Social Platform argues that a comprehensive Just Transition Policy Framework would offer a critical opportunity to change course. By building on the Fair Transition Recommendation and embedding strong social protection, quality public and social services, workers’ rights, support for the social economy, evidence-based monitoring and research, targeted inclusion policies and global justice, affordable housing and energy, civil society participation, and adequate public financing, the EU can ensure that the climate transition strengthens equality rather than deepening existing divides.
