Policy Guidelines on Just Transition Released to Support Energy and Climate Governance

The Energy Community has firmly embedded just transition principles into its overarching energy and climate governance framework, including their integration into National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs) and associated reporting obligations, as mandated by the adapted Governance Regulation and its Implementing Regulation. To support this process, the Energy Community Secretariat is publishing Policy Guidelines on Just Transition as part of integrated energy and climate planning. These Guidelines serve as a guiding document for just transition planning across the Energy Community, while ensuring alignment with the existing legal obligations of Contracting Parties.

The Guidelines also address identified gaps in the incorporation of just transition elements into NECPs and provide a framework for just transition reporting. A well-structured and coherent document outlining just transition aspects at the national or regional level can act as a compass for implementing transition-related actions, while also serving as a financing roadmap for both domestic and international support.

The Policy Guidelines aim to support Contracting Parties by providing structured guidance in the following key areas:

1. Enhancing the integration of just transition into NECPs and integrated progress reports, including key elements for supplementary documents such as Just Transition Plans or Roadmaps;
2. Incorporating Just Transition Plans or Roadmaps into integrated energy and climate planning, particularly by addressing the mandatory impact assessment of policies and measures (PaMs) in NECPs;
3. Supporting local and governmental authorities in the preparation of Just Transition Plans or Roadmaps aligned with EU structures, and ensuring their eventual integration into NECPs;
4. Improving reporting on just transition, both within Just Transition Plans and as part of the broader energy and climate governance framework.

Overall, the Policy Guidelines are intended to be a practical tool for national and regional policymakers, stakeholders involved in the just transition process, and public and private financing institutions.

In addition, the Energy Community Secretariat will host an online event titled "Planning for a Just and Sustainable Energy Transition: The Role of JT Guidance" on 27 June, featuring contributions from GIZ and Bankwatch. The event will explore the structure and potential of using Just Transition Plans or Roadmaps as practical tools to guide the energy transition.