Coal phase-out and just transitions

The report analyzes European coal transitions, finding that while support measures limited poverty, they often failed to secure new employment for workers. Successes were linked to bottom-up project identification combined with top-down financing, investments in transport and education, and environmental restoration. It suggests China can achieve a more successful just transition by proactively planning based on these European experiences.

• Former coal regions continue to underperform compared to national averages regarding employment, economic growth, and health. Economic recovery is hindered in rural areas by inadequate educational and transport infrastructure.
• Worker support measures were effective at preventing spikes in unemployment and poverty but generally failed to move workers into secure employment. Early retirement was a primary tool for managing labour shocks, while career services were typically insufficient, with the exception of Skills Development Scotland.
• The most successful management of structural change in European coal regions combined top-down coordination and financing with bottom-up project identification and implementation, which increased local ownership.
• Investment in transport and education served as critical enablers for economic restructuring. Transport investment created immediate jobs and expanded commuting ranges, while education enabled the creation of high-wage, innovative business streams.
• Environmental restoration provided multiple benefits, including improved quality of life, reduced migration, and the attraction of new businesses. In the Ruhr and Lusatia regions, this restoration established a new core industry focused on environmental services.

APA

NewClimate Institute (2022). Coal phase-out and just transitions. http://www.newclimate.org/resources/publications/coal-phase-out-and-just-transitions

Chicago

NewClimate Institute. Coal phase-out and just transitions. 2022. http://www.newclimate.org/resources/publications/coal-phase-out-and-just-transitions.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=NewClimate Institute |title=Coal phase-out and just transitions |date=10 November 2022 |url=http://www.newclimate.org/resources/publications/coal-phase-out-and-just-transitions |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{newclimateinstitute2022coal, author = {{NewClimate Institute}}, title = {{Coal phase-out and just transitions}}, institution = {NewClimate Institute}, year = {2022}, month = nov, url = {http://www.newclimate.org/resources/publications/coal-phase-out-and-just-transitions}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }