The A to Z of the Energy Transition: J is for Just Transition

The 'Just Transition' has become an oft banded around term, at conferences in LinkedIn articles but often without much explanation on what is meant by it.   
 

So what is a 'just transition'? Who is it for? And why does it matter?  
 

The Energy Institute considered this question carefully, when we developed our purpose and strategy: Our purpose is creating a better energy future for our members and society by accelerating a just global transition to net zero.  
 

In this article I'll highlight four key aspects of a just transition - there are of course more and I'd love to hear other perspectives in the comments. But first, where did this term come from?  
 

Origins of 'Just Transition'  
 

The expression 'Just Transition' originates from trades unions in the US in the 1980s. The late Tony Mazzocchi, an environmental activist, coined the term in relation to workers exposed to working in the chemicals industry, recognising they needed support as they transitioned away from working in 'toxic' chemical industries.   
 

Just Transition re-entered popular vernacular more recently at COP21 in Paris, 2015. It was recorded in the Paris Agreement as follows: Taking into account the imperatives of a just transition of the workforce and the creation of decent work and quality jobs in accordance with nationally defined development priorities,  
 

And since then, the concept of a Just Transition has been a key theme of every COP and every climate-energy related event.   
 

So let's explore five key aspects of a Just Transition.  
 

1.    Access to energy   
 

United Nations Sustainability Development Goal 7 (SDG7) sets out: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all  Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy | UNEP - UN Environment Programme.  
 

SDG 7 image, source: United Nations  
 

But despite the fact that the world is consuming more energy than ever (620 EJ from the Energy Institute Statistical Review of World Energy in 2023), according to the United Nations there are still 733m without access to electricity. It remains a major injustice that so many people do not have access, despite developed economies, such as the UK and US, having enjoyed ubiquitous and reliable electricity for over a century. Without power children cannot read in the evening, food does not keep and vaccines cannot be stored. And it is difficult for farming and industry to scale beyond subsistence levels. Perhaps more alarmingly, around a quarter of the world's population (around 2.3 billion people) still cook on primitive fuels, such as wood and biomass. This results in a tragic impact on human health, with around 3.2 million premature deaths (including 237, 00 children) each year due, according to the World Health Organization (more here: Household air pollution). And according to the United Nations this figure is even higher, at 7 million.   
 

Such cooking practices also result in a massive gender inequity, with women disproportionally exposed to the health issue and also spending significant time gathering firewood and other forms of fuel. Organisations, such as the Clean Cooking Alliance, led by the brilliant Dymphna van der Lans are doing important work to not only raise awareness but also deliver practical solutions.  
 

One of the most stark findings from last year's Energy Institute Statistical Review of World Energy was that the continent that consumes the least energy per capita, Africa (at about one tenth that of US citizens), actually saw a small decline in energy consumption. The people who need energy more than any of us are getting even less!   
 

Until we have truly provided access to reliable electricity and clean cooking to all 8 billion humans on Earth, we have a long way to go in meeting a Just Transition.  
 

2. Affordable energy  
 

Whilst most of us in the developed world do not face the same challenges in accessing energy, an increasing number have been exposed to energy poverty in recent years. Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. gas prices spiked in Europe. This in turn triggered inflation in many other areas, such as food and building materials, putting even more pressure on consumers. Despite unprecedented government interventions and support mechanisms, many consumers have faced tough choices about heating their homes or eating.   
 

Throughout this period, energy prices have become conflated by some as driven by net zero agendas, leading to some of the current net zero backlash. I won't get drawn into this debate here, as it's complex and far more nuanced than attributing energy prices to a single factor.   
 

The point I will make is that there is also a big inequity between those who can afford to invest in the capital costs of 'net zero' changes, such as installing a heat pump, energy efficiency measures or buying an EV - not only benefiting from government subsidies but also reaping the benefits of lower bills through reduced consumption and/or agile tariffs which allow consumers to benefit from off-peak pricing.  
 

To make the transition more just for consumers who struggle with energy bills, we need to find far more equitable ways to help people invest in energy efficiency projects through low or zero-cost loans and community schemes that help spread costs. As well as bringing down the cost of energy to consumers by reducing dependency on volatile international commodity prices (recognising they will never completely disconnect)  
 

3. A just transition for oil and gas workers  
 

The energy transition provides a huge opportunity for many millions of new highly skilled roles - from offshore wind technicians, to heat pump installers to behavioural and data scientists. At the same time, many workers in the fossil sector face uncertainty on their futures.   
 

Last week I visited Aberdeen, meeting with many stakeholders, Energy Institute members and former colleagues. Whilst there is support on the need to tackle climate change, I sensed real anxiety from the many people I met. Oil and gas companies are cutting jobs but the growth from new transition roles has yet to materialise at pace.   
 

Aberdeen has long been labelled the Energy Capital of Europe, but unless we find a way to grow opportunities in new areas and transition supply chain companies, it risks losing its crown. Organisations such as Energy Transition Zone Ltd and Net Zero Technology Centre are doing a great job helping to drive innovation and provide skills training to help maintain Aberdeen's leading position. Few cities are as exposed to energy as Aberdeen (1 in 5 people works directly in the energy sector and many more indirectly), but other cities such as Stavanger and Houston may face similar challenges. And for nations whose primary export is oil and gas, this may be an even bigger challenge in the fullness of time.  
 

We must ensure that we help workers in traditional forms of energy navigate this uncertainty and have a sense of agency in their future careers. The Energy Institute is seeking to do more in this area, as I know are others, so I'd love to hear perspectives on what would help.  
 

4. Attracting a diverse workforce that truly represents society  
 

Above I mentioned the inequity for women around cooking. We are also still a very long way from an equitable and inclusive workforce in energy. In the UK, POWERful Women (which is hosted by the Energy Institute) was set up over 10 years ago to dramatically increase the number of women at senior levels in the energy sector. Since tracking the data on the UK's largest energy companies, we've seen a substantial increase from females representing just 9% of Board members in 2015 to 29% today, but we still have a long way to go to hit our 40% goal by 2030. We've also started tracking data at middle management levels, to better understand the pipeline of female talent. We'll publish the latest data on 11th June PfW Annual State of the Nation Launch.  
 

And it's not just about gender. It's race, sexuality, social mobility and all aspects of diversity and inclusion. Tackling Inclusion and Diversity in Energy (TIDE) is another UK initiative, led by Ofgem, Energy UK, Energy Networks Association (ENA) and the Energy Institute to bring all of these themes together, through an annual EDI health index, sharing best practice and an annual conference (on 15th July) Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in Energy Conference 2025  
 

Why is all of this important?   
 

First, the energy sector is going to need a lot of people in the coming decades. The International Energy Agency (IEA) has said another 14 million just to 2030. We're not going to recruit the best people if we're only looking in the usual places.  
 

Second, the energy transition is going to require societal and behavioural changes on a level not seen before. We cannot hope to successfully deliver these changes if our energy companies and organisations do not truly represent the societies in which they operate.  
 

Third, multiple studies have demonstrated that diverse teams perform better on every level (and are more fun to be part of). Here's a recent article from Jason Webber The Business Case for Diversity: Why Diverse Teams Perform Better | LinkedIn  
 

Fourth, stating the blindingly obvious, - it's the right thing to do!  
 

5. Community benefits from the transition  
 

The final area I'll touch upon is the impact of the transition on communities.   
 

As windfarms, solar farms, and transmission are being built around the world (but particularly in densely populated countries like the UK), there is increasing community objection to new development. Whilst some might dismiss this as NIMBYism, it's really important that people feel that the transition is not forced upon them. For people to feel that it is a just transition, communities must feel agency in decisions around new infrastructure and see tangible benefits - be that new jobs or cheaper electricity.   
 

There is no doubt that we need to invest in new transmission systems (National Grid is investing over £30bn in the UK to 2030). Not many of us think pylons are attractive (except 7 year-old Ted Elliott - I’m seven-years-old and obsessed with pylons so I had a tour of two South Tyneside substations) but innovation is going into new T-pylon designs that are less intrusive.   

 
New T-pylons, source: National Grid  
 

Another innovation is renewable developers giving local communities discounted or free electricity when a wind (or solar) farm is producing. If someone sees a direct benefit they are far less likely to oppose local development. Octopus Energy's 'Fan Club' - is one example of such a scheme in action. Octopus Energy 'Fan Club' making big savings from offshore wind farms - The Eco Experts. The motivations for people may vary - for some it's about saving money, for some it's about feeling 'ownership' for others it's just being asked what they think. But in all instances, it's clear that better engagement with communities is going to be key to delivering their idea of a Just Transition.  
 

Making the transition just  
 

These five areas are just a snapshot into some aspects of a Just Transition.   
 

I haven't talked about the challenges around mining for transition metals and minerals, the imbalance of legacy emissions for countries that have been big emitters for two centuries vs those who've yet to even start emitting at scale, or how we should think about many other trade offs.   
 

What is clear is that people are at the heart of a just transition. If we do think about all of society, as a collective, the impact on communities and ultimately the what's in it for me of every individual, we won't deliver any transition, let alone a just one.  
 

Further reading:  
 

As always, some additional reading from the Energy Institute's New Energy World magazine - with thanks to Will Dalrymple.   
 

And first an article on clean cooking from Energy Institute Fellow Prof Matthew Leach The sun is shining on metered and measured approaches for clean cooking - Modern Energy Cooking Services   
 

How we can be sure of a just energy transformation, and why it matters How can any organisation or individual align with this process, asks Dean Cooper, Global Energy Lead at WWF.  
 

The critical role of finance in delivering just transition pathways Implementing climate policies requires policymakers to grapple with crucial questions of whose justice is being affected and how, write Tiffanie Chan and Jodi-Ann Wang  
 

10 recommended measures to roll out a just transition University of Oxford Professor Sam Fankhauser discusses 10 measures recommended to triple renewables capacity by 2030 in accordance with the recent COP28 Agreement.  
 

A vision for accelerating a just energy transition  Andy Brown OBE FEI, President of the Energy Institute, speaks about his vision for his term of office, which began in July 2024.  
 

Delivering our energy future – pathways to a ‘just and fair’ transition Transforming the North Sea to a multi-energy basin is certainly possible, but action on employment and skills retention is needed now if the transition is to be in any way just or fair  
 

Transitioning into offshore wind The oil and gas industry can prove a fine base from which to enter the growing offshore wind sector, writes Alastair Dutton, Co-founder of the online course provider Offshore Wind Learning.