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The document details how the Huntley Alliance, a coalition of labor, environmental, and community groups, responded to the closure of the Huntley Generating Station in Tonawanda, New York. It highlights the successful lobbying for the Electric Generation Facility Cessation Mitigation Fund to offset tax losses and the development of the 'Tonawanda Tomorrow' economic action plan to diversify the local economy and redevelop waterfront property.

Since 1972, Kentucky has used a coal severance tax to support economic development and basic services in coal-dependent counties through the Local Government Economic Assistance Fund (LGEAF) and the Local Government Economic Development Fund (LGEDF). While these funds have provided critical resources for infrastructure and social programs, their effectiveness in achieving broad economic diversification is limited by the lack of a coordinated long-term strategy and a sharp decline in tax revenues as coal production drops. By 2019, coal production in Kentucky had fallen by nearly 80% from its 1990 peak, leading to unpredictable funding and a growing gap between available resources and the needs of a just transition.

The document describes the decline of the Ukrainian coal industry and the subsequent social and economic challenges in the Donetsk region. It highlights two primary initiatives for transition: the grassroots Platform for Sustainable Development of Coal Towns of Donetsk Region, which seeks economic diversification and green enterprise development, and the national Coordination Center for Transformation of Coal Regions. While the government aims to reduce state-owned coal production by 25% and create 40,000 new jobs by 2027, the document notes significant challenges, including a lack of concrete action plans, insufficient public engagement, and political instability due to armed conflict.

Canada established a National Task Force in 2018 to manage the social and economic impacts of its 2030 coal power phase-out, which is expected to eliminate 42,000 jobs despite providing CAD 4.7 billion in economic benefits. The Task Force provided 10 recommendations covering governance, funding, and worker support, leading to the 2019 budget allocation of CAD 35 million for worker transition centers and CAD 150 million for a community infrastructure fund. While the initiative is noted for strong federal support and effective social dialogue, it faces challenges regarding the need for sustained, larger-scale funding over the next decade.

The document details the response to the 2017 closure of the 1.6 GW coal-fired Hazelwood Power Station, which resulted in a net loss of approximately 500 jobs. It highlights a multi-sectoral approach involving federal and state funding, the creation of the Latrobe Valley Authority, and the innovative Latrobe Valley Worker Transfer Partnership Scheme, which redeployed younger workers to other power plants by offering early retirement to older employees. By November 2019, 74% of former Hazelwood employees were re-employed or retired.

The document estimates that providing comprehensive supports—including wage replacement, education, and relocation allowances—for dislocated coal workers in the U.S. would cost between $33 billion over 25 years and $83 billion over 15 years. It details the methodology used to calculate the number of affected workers, utilizing 2019 data to identify 52,804 coal miners and an estimated 37,071 power plant workers. The analysis assumes a total coal phaseout between 2030 and 2040, focusing on 'dislocated' workers who will not reach retirement age by the end of the transition.

The document examines the existential threats faced by small island developing states (SIDS), highlighting their extreme vulnerability to sea-level rise and economic shocks despite contributing less than 1% of global carbon emissions. It advocates for a transition from seeing themselves as 'small islands' to 'large ocean states' by leveraging their exclusive economic zones (EEZs) through the 'blue economy.' The brief emphasizes the need for innovative financing, such as blue bonds and debt-for-climate swaps, and the urgent transition to domestic renewable energy to reduce dependence on fossil fuel imports.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) faces a 'paradox of plenty,' where immense natural resources coexist with extreme poverty and poor human development indicators. On its current trajectory, the DRC is projected to remain a low-income country with stagnant per capita income and high poverty rates through 2050. Key constraints include endemic corruption, a massive infrastructure deficit in electricity and transport, and a high fertility rate that hinders the demographic dividend. The report models several intervention scenarios, finding that while agricultural improvements offer short-term poverty relief, long-term prosperity depends on structural economic transformation and improved governance. A combined comprehensive scenario suggests that concerted action across governance, infrastructure, human capital, and agriculture could reduce the extreme poverty rate to 9.6% by 2050.

The document analyzes the economic dependence of Colombia and its producing regions on coal, highlighting the vulnerability of public finances to declining international demand and the COVID-19 pandemic. It examines the General Royalty System (SGR) and projects that despite recent legal reforms to increase direct allocations to producing regions, the downward trend in coal production will lead to significant losses in royalty revenues for departments like Cesar and La Guajira by 2030.

The document analyzes the risks associated with Colombia's dependence on thermal coal exports amidst declining global demand and proposes a transition strategy based on economic diversification and social equity. It highlights the severe poverty and environmental degradation in the Cesar and La Guajira regions, where coal mining contributes significantly to regional GDP but provides limited local employment. The brief recommends shifting from carbon-intensive industrialization to low-carbon asset diversification, implementing active labor policies, and establishing mechanisms to quantify and repair socio-environmental liabilities. It critiques current government strategies, such as 'neutral coal,' for extending the life of a declining sector rather than accelerating decarbonization.

The document examines the decline of the U.S. coal industry, driven by cheaper natural gas and renewables, and the resulting workforce crisis. It argues that a successful transition requires more than just shifting to another single industry; it necessitates broad economic diversification. The brief outlines potential employment opportunities in clean energy, energy efficiency, environmental remediation (such as mine reclamation and forest restoration), broadband deployment, and entrepreneurship. It also reviews proposed federal frameworks, such as the National Economic Transition Office, and highlights regional initiatives in Appalachia and the West that support displaced workers through retraining and community-led development.

Nigeria's response to Covid-19 was characterized by low reported death rates, potentially due to limited testing capacity, and a reliance on lockdowns that exacerbated poverty for low-income earners. The pandemic exposed critical weaknesses in the national health system, which had received funding below the 15% Abuja Declaration target, and highlighted the economic risk of the country's heavy dependence on oil revenue. To mitigate economic contraction, the government adjusted its oil benchmark price, secured a $3.4 billion IMF loan, and implemented various tax reliefs and intervention funds for small businesses and the healthcare sector.

The document examines the decline of the U.S. coal industry, driven by cheaper alternative energy and rising extraction costs, and the resulting workforce crisis. It evaluates various federal legislative proposals and existing programs aimed at economic diversification, such as the RECLAIM Act and EDA grants. The brief highlights opportunities for transition in renewable energy, energy efficiency, environmental restoration, broadband deployment, and entrepreneurship, emphasizing that a 'just transition' requires a holistic, community-driven approach rather than a simple shift from one single industry to another.

The report argues that Algeria must implement comprehensive political, social, and economic reforms to address systemic corruption, poor governance, and an over-reliance on oil. It highlights the need to diversify the economy, improve the business environment for the private sector, and transition toward renewable energy and sustainable water management to mitigate climate impacts. Key recommendations include enhancing transparency, reducing food imports by boosting agricultural production, and aligning workforce skills with market needs.

The report analyzes Algeria's development pathway to 2040, highlighting a reliance on hydrocarbons, poor governance, and an unsustainable subsidy system. It projects a modest GDP growth rate of 1.8% under current policies but proposes an 'Algerian Dream' scenario involving democratic reform, economic diversification, and investment in the knowledge economy to achieve higher growth and inclusivity.

The document highlights a significant misalignment between government energy production plans and Paris Agreement goals, noting that governments planned to extract 60% more oil, 70% more gas, and 280% more coal by 2030 than is consistent with a 1.5°C pathway. It suggests that NDCs and LT-LEDS can be used to communicate pathways, targets, and policy measures to manage the transition away from fossil fuels while ensuring a just transition for affected workers and communities.

The document maps local procurement regulations in the SADC region, distinguishing between demand-side policies (encouraging companies to buy locally) and supply-side interventions (supporting local supplier capacity). It finds that while most SADC countries have some form of local procurement requirement, the level of detail varies significantly, with the DRC, Namibia, South Africa, and Tanzania employing specific targets and plans, while others rely on vague 'best effort obligations'.

The report examines the socioeconomic impacts of industrial decline and evaluates the effectiveness of various transition responses. It argues that successful 'just' transitions require early strategic planning, multi-stakeholder governance, and a holistic approach to regional economic development that builds on existing local capabilities rather than seeking a single industrial replacement. Through case studies in the US, UK, Australia, and South Africa, the document highlights the risks of uneven benefit distribution, the importance of reskilling over simple monetary compensation, and the necessity of addressing environmental legacies to enable land reuse.

The report finds that COVID-19 is set to undo several years of development progress in Africa, with the economy projected to be between US$335 billion and US$617 billion smaller by 2030 compared to pre-pandemic forecasts. It highlights a severe risk of a debt crisis, significant reductions in health expenditure, and a widening gap in achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, particularly regarding extreme poverty. While Africa's youthful population may mitigate direct mortality, the report warns that indirect deaths from reduced health spending and disrupted care for diseases like HIV and malaria could be substantial. Recommendations include accelerating digitisation, improving water and sanitation (WaSH) infrastructure, and securing comprehensive debt relief.

The document examines how COVID-19 transitioned from a health crisis to a systemic human development crisis in Africa, highlighting the severe economic contraction faced by energy exporters and tourism-dependent nations. It notes that while developed economies initially bore a higher infection burden, the economic downturn is universal, potentially triggering debt crises and defaults. However, the report suggests the pandemic could accelerate digitisation and a transition toward a sustainable economy powered by renewable energy.