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Laos is highly vulnerable to climate change but has low per capita emissions, with the transport sector being the primary source of CO2. While the government has set ambitious goals to increase forest cover to 70% and expand hydropower, these policies risk negatively impacting the livelihoods of the 70% of the population working in agriculture and forestry. The report identifies significant barriers to a just transition, including low awareness of the concept among policymakers, limited governmental capacity, data gaps, and a heavy reliance on external financing. It recommends improving cross-governmental coordination, enhancing data collection, and establishing participatory mechanisms to engage poor and marginalised communities in climate planning to ensure equitable benefit-sharing.

The report examines the intersection of climate change mitigation and social equity in Laos. While the country has low emissions and high hydropower capacity, its climate goals—such as increasing forest cover to 70%—risk harming the 70% of the population dependent on agriculture and forestry. The document argues that a 'just transition' requires inclusive planning, benefit-sharing mechanisms, and improved government capacity to prevent the further marginalization of poor and vulnerable communities.

The document analyzes Argentina's challenges in implementing a 'just transition' toward a low-carbon economy, highlighting a critical lack of coordination between government agencies and a tension between climate commitments and the continued expansion of fossil fuels. It identifies the energy sector (51% of emissions) and the Agriculture, Forestry, and Other Land Use (AFOLU) sector (39% of emissions) as the primary areas of impact. The report argues that current participatory processes are often 'testimonial' and that a unified national decarbonization plan is necessary to prevent further socio-economic inequalities, particularly for women, ethnic minorities, and small-scale producers.

The report examines how a 'just transition'—ensuring the costs of moving to low-carbon societies are fairly distributed—can be applied in the Global South. Through studies in nine countries, it identifies systemic barriers such as high rates of informal labour, insecure land tenure, and a lack of socio-economic data. It argues that international climate finance is currently too focused on technical transitions and must be broadened to support the social and economic needs of affected communities, including re-skilling and social safety nets.

The report analyzes Vietnam's increasing reliance on coal, which grew from 18% of the electricity mix in 2010 to over 50% in 2020, and the subsequent need for a 'just transition' to protect vulnerable workers and communities. It identifies key stakeholders, including 122,000 coal industry workers, and highlights the specific vulnerability of the Northern regions like Quang Ninh. The document argues that while a transition would improve public health and the national trade balance, it requires comprehensive planning, re-skilling programs, and international financial support, such as the $15.5 billion JETP deal, to avoid increasing inequality.

The report examines Vietnam's increasing reliance on coal, which grew from 18% of electricity production in 2010 to over 50% in 2020. It argues that while a transition to clean energy will improve public health and trade balances, it poses significant risks to approximately 122,000 workers in the coal sector. The authors recommend a detailed roadmap involving inter-ministerial coordination, retraining for vulnerable groups—particularly women and older workers—and the use of both market and non-market financial tools to manage the phase-out of aging plants.

The report argues that while Kenya is advancing in renewable energy and climate policy, its transition to a low-carbon economy risks marginalizing informal workers, women, and youth. It examines sectoral vulnerabilities in agriculture, energy, transport, industry, forestry, waste, and tourism, highlighting a critical gap between national climate goals and the social protection mechanisms needed to ensure a just transition. The document recommends integrating just transition principles into the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and Medium-Term Plans, emphasizing the need for reskilling, gender quotas, and the formalization of the informal sector to prevent livelihood losses.

The report examines the challenges of implementing a just transition in Argentina, highlighting a critical lack of coordination between government agencies and a lack of consensus on the necessity of decarbonisation. It identifies the energy sector (51% of emissions) and the agriculture, forestry and other land use (AFOLU) sector (39% of emissions) as the primary areas for mitigation. The document notes that while the government has committed to emission reductions via its NDC, it simultaneously prioritises the expansion of oil and gas resources in the Vaca Muerta basin. Key recommendations include creating a unified national decarbonisation plan, expanding stakeholder participation beyond 'testimonial' processes, and addressing deep-seated gender and ethnic inequalities within the productive sectors.

The report examines the 'just transition' in Malawi, focusing on agriculture and forestry. While Malawi's climate policies do not explicitly mention 'just transition', some elements of the NDC and Malawi 2063 align with it. However, risks exist, such as the potential for agricultural mechanisation and commercialisation to marginalise smallholders without secure land tenure. In forestry, efforts to curb illegal charcoal production may cause energy poverty and livelihood loss for the poor if alternative energy and income sources are not provided. The report emphasizes that external support is critical, as 78% of the NDC's emissions reductions are conditional.

The report examines the systemic risks posed by the 'new planetary reality' of the Anthropocene, where climate instability and biosphere depletion create non-linear financial risks. It argues that current ESG metrics and macroeconomic indicators (like GDP) are insufficient because they fail to account for planetary boundaries and natural capital. The authors highlight the disproportionate responsibility of high-income countries for ecological breakdown and the role of 'keystone actors'—including transnational corporations and 'Big Three' asset managers (BlackRock, Vanguard, State Street)—in driving or mitigating these risks. The document proposes a shift toward a precautionary approach to financial regulation, the adoption of impact accounting, and the use of social norm shifts to accelerate a just transition.

The report assesses the South African large-scale renewable energy market, focusing on the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP) and the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) 2019. It identifies significant growth potential in solar PV, onshore wind, and battery storage, while highlighting critical barriers such as grid saturation in the Northern and Western Cape and the financial instability of the state utility, Eskom. The document also explores emerging opportunities in green hydrogen production and local manufacturing of components, supported by the Atlantis Special Economic Zone in the Western Cape.

The Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) critiques South Africa's Just Energy Transition Investment Plan (JET-IP), a USD 8.5 billion deal with France, the UK, the US, and the EU. The analysis highlights that 81% of the financing consists of loans, with 89.4% targeted at infrastructure, leaving minimal funding for skills development (0.1%) and economic diversification (0.3%). The IEJ warns that the plan's reliance on 'de-risking' private investment through Independent Power Producers (IPPs) may lead to higher electricity tariffs, unsustainable sovereign debt from previous guarantee windows, and a failure to localize the renewable energy value chain. Furthermore, the document notes a lack of social security for workers in the Mpumalanga coal-belt, where up to 8,000 direct jobs could be lost. The IEJ advocates for a shift toward climate reparations, debt cancellation, and grant-based financing to ensure a truly just transition.

The document argues that climate change acts as a 'threat multiplier' in Africa, where risks are amplified by existing governance deficits and poor development. It emphasizes that while climate-driven scarcity can fuel conflict, causality is complex and depends on political and historical contexts. The authors advocate for integrating climate action into the broader development agenda, transitioning from a narrative of vulnerability to one of economic opportunity through renewable energy and climate-resilient infrastructure. Key recommendations include strengthening the evidence base for climate security, increasing climate finance flows, and expanding climate diplomacy beyond the UNFCCC to platforms like the G20 and the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement.

The Energy Transition Council (ETC) aims to make clean power the most affordable and reliable option for developing countries by 2030. For 2022, its priorities include continuing high-level political dialogues, scaling the Rapid Response Facility (RRF) for technical assistance, and coordinating with international initiatives like the GGI-OSOWOG and the Just Transition Declaration. The ETC focuses on eight key areas: integrated energy planning, utility-scale renewables, coal and fossil fuel transition, investment policy, green grids, energy efficiency, distributed renewable energy, and just transition.

The 2022 SEforALL Forum, held in Kigali, Rwanda, mobilized USD 347 million in new financial commitments to support clean energy transitions and energy access in developing countries. Key outcomes included the Kigali Communique, which outlines seven transformative actions for a just energy transition in Africa, and the launch of several new partnerships and initiatives targeting renewable energy, energy efficiency, and clean cooking. The event emphasized the integration of youth in energy leadership and provided a platform for ministerial roundtables and B2B investment matchmaking.

The report finds that while updated NDCs show increased ambition and better alignment with national planning, a massive gap remains between current commitments and the emissions reductions needed to limit warming to 1.5°C. Mitigation efforts have improved in scope and transparency, but many sectoral measures remain vague. Adaptation components are more prevalent in developing countries and show increased focus on equity and critical systems, though implementation details like timeframes and indicators are often missing. Climate finance requirements reported in NDCs total $4.282 trillion, highlighting a significant need for increased international support.

The report examines the role of informal waste reclaimers in African cities, highlighting their significant contribution to recycling and waste diversion despite facing severe health risks, social marginalization, and low pay. It argues that the current linear 'take-make-waste' model is unsustainable and that an 'inclusive circular economy' must integrate these vulnerable workers into formal policy and value chains. The document provides a comparative analysis of the informal waste sector in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, and Uganda, detailing specific policy gaps and opportunities for reclaimer integration and formalization.

South Africa has the technical potential to produce between 3.2 and 4.5 billion litres of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) annually, depending on the use of green hydrogen. The most cost-efficient route is the first-generation alcohol-to-jet (AtJ) pathway using sugarcane A-molasses, while the largest volume potential comes from processing invasive alien plants (IAPs) and garden waste via Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. A domestic SAF industry could create over 100,000 direct green jobs, including significant opportunities for coal-truck drivers in transition, and improve the national balance of trade by up to R170 billion per annum.

South Africa has the technical potential to produce 3.2 to 4.5 billion litres of SAF annually, depending on the use of green hydrogen. The most cost-efficient route is the first-generation (1G) alcohol-to-jet (AtJ) pathway using sugarcane A-molasses, while the largest volume potential comes from invasive alien plants (IAPs) and garden waste via gasification and Fischer-Tropsch (GFT) synthesis. A domestic SAF industry could create over 100,000 direct green jobs, improve the national balance of trade by up to R159.5 billion per year, and provide alternative livelihoods for coal truckers in mining regions.

Spain's coal industry has seen a massive decline in employment from 45,000 in 1990 to approximately 1,700 by 2017, driven by EU mandates and the economics of renewable energy. To address the resulting economic distress and depopulation in rural mining towns, the Spanish government implemented the 2019 Just Transition Strategy and the Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan 2021-2030. These frameworks utilize 'Just Transition Agreements'—participatory regional action plans—to diversify local economies and support workers through reskilling and early retirement. While the government has established a transparent process and strong stakeholder coordination, challenges remain in redressing decades of economic decline and securing funding for new projects without a dedicated funding pool.