MODULE 4 - Just Energy Transition
The Indian Energy Transition Series
The EU and India: Inevitable Partners for a Rules-Based International Order - Heinrich Böll Stiftung Delhi
MODULE 4 - Just Energy Transition
(Playtime - 6:21)
This video explains why fairness and inclusion must be central to India’s energy transition. It explores the social impacts on workers, coal-dependent regions, local communities, and why planned, participatory transition is essential.
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What makes a transition “just”
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Social & economic risks for workers and districts
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Global roots of Just Transition frameworks
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India’s vulnerable regions and workers
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Policies & taskforces shaping inclusive transition pathways
Employment
Direct job losses in extraction and power generation threaten livelihoods.
Local economies
Mining towns lose their economic foundation and tax base.
Public revenue
States dependent on coal royalties face fiscal pressure.
Land use
Renewable projects compete for space with other essential uses.
What Is a Just Transition?
A transition that shares both benefits and burdens fairly — ensuring no worker or community is left behind as fossil fuels decline.
Just transition policies aim to create new opportunities whilst cushioning inevitable disruptions.
Workers at risk
Employed across fossil fuel extraction, processing, and power generation sectors.
Dependent districts
Communities where coal and fossil industries dominate local economies.
Informal labour
Workers without formal contracts or social protection face greatest vulnerability.
Just transition in India is a complex issue that demands strong political will and ethical commitment to ensure timely policy development.
Coal mine closure guidelines
Revised frameworks establish protocols for managing shutdowns and supporting affected workers.
Jharkhand Just Transition Taskforce
India's first state-level body dedicated to planning and implementing just transition measures.
Inter-ministerial working group
National coordination mechanism for net-zero planning across government departments.
Just Transition Work Programme
Launched at the United Nations Climate Change Summit in 2023, it aims to integrate just transition into climate change strategies.