A Study of Just Transition Policy Instruments and Paths Under Climate Governance

With their commitments to carbon neutrality (net-zero emissions) goals, countries around the world are facing profound economic and social transformations, and interest in just transition (JT) has rapidly increased. In 2025, the 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) reached a consensus on establishing a JT mechanism (JTM) under the Convention and the Paris Agreement, marking a shift in global JT governance from international negotiations toward cooperative action. However, understanding of how different countries and regions conceptualize JT and what policy measures they adopt to pursue it remains limited. Due to differences in development levels across regions, cities, and industries, the challenges associated with JT also vary considerably. Therefore, accurate identification of the challenges and implementation pathways of JT under different conditions and needs is necessary for systematic promotion of both JT towards carbon neutrality and broader economic and social transformation. Drawing on international experiences in addressing climate change through JT measures, this paper reviews policy responses and develops a policy toolkit for JT under climate governance. The toolkit encompasses eight dimensions: overall planning, economic (financial) policies, industrial development, spatial planning, support for workers, gender equality, social governance, and international cooperation. This paper aims to provide policy options for implementing JT around the world at the national, urban, and industrial levels.