RFF report unveils EU policies for a just transition
Resources for the Future (RFF) has released a report titled “The European Union Policy Toolbox to Support Just Transition.” This report distills invaluable lessons from the European Union’s energy transition, offering essential insights to US policymakers in crafting a fair and effective transition strategy.
Authored by experts including Elena Verdolini and Chiara Belpietro from CMCC, the report delves into the EU’s commitment to shifting towards climate-neutral technologies and business models by 2050. It underscores the importance of accompanying this transition with adjustment assistance to mitigate disproportionate burdens on segments of society reliant on carbon-intensive resources.
The report focuses on the concept of just transition, emphasizing the need for fair and inclusive policies, as advocated by the European Commission. It explores EU-level programs implemented between 2014 and 2020 and outlines policy changes proposed in the European Green Deal for 2020–25.
Drawing from the EU experience, the report identifies key components of a comprehensive and effective energy transition policy package: By examining EU programs and policies, it aims to assist US policymakers in addressing equity and fairness issues in the United States’ energy transition.
Several insights emerge from the report, including, but not limited to, the role of stable funding to support just transition efforts, as is the case for EU’s multiannual and investment-focused budget; the focus on using public funding to mobilize private investment to support just transition efforts; the establishment of a single access point for related EU-wide resources and a centralized source for technical assistance, i.e. the Just Transition Platform within the Just Transition Mechanism; the importance of developing Territorial Just Transition Plans to design solutions which respond to local needs.
About RFF:
Resources for the Future (RFF) is an independent, nonprofit research institution that improves environmental, energy, and natural resource decisions through impartial economic research and policy engagement. Its mission is to conduct rigorous analysis to help policymakers make informed decisions about the most pressing environmental and natural resource issues.
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