Embracing policy paradoxes: EU’s Just Transition Fund and the aim “to leave no one behind”

Abstract

With the adoption of the 2030 Agenda, UN Member States pledge “to leave no one behind” and “endeavour to reach the furthest behind first”. The EU Just Transition Fund (JTF) was designed to meet these policy objectives. It is one of three pillars of the Just Transition Mechanism, aiming at fair delivery of the European Green Deal and reducing adverse social and economic impacts of the transition towards a climate-neutral Europe. We examine the formulation of the JTF Regulation, from January 2020 until July 2021 and analyse seven topics of importance during the JTF formulation. Based on the results, we identify and discuss four paradoxes related to governance scales, offsetting exclusion, equity illusion, and eligibility criteria. The paradoxes arise from tension between the all-inclusive objective to leave no one behind, and selective affirmative actions, seeking to reach the furthest behind first. Results of the analysis enabled us to put forward plausible strategies to embrace these policy paradoxes to offer important lessons learned for the JTF and also to future policies that seek to leave no one behind.

Measuring the Justness of the European Green Transition

“…Among the recommendations it made were the following: engaging with local stakeholders before and all throughout the transition, using NUTS3-level data instead of NUTS2-level data regarding the fossil-fuel regions in the EU, including targeted labour and welfare policies, ensuring that regions put in place both social support policies and economic policies, requiring the member states to give clear and long-term fossil fuel phase-out goals, and others (European Parliament, 2020). Sarkki et al (2022) identify and discuss four paradoxes arising from the EU's Just Transition Fund and the aim "to leave no one behind". They are related to governance scales, offsetting exclusion, equity illusion, and eligibility criteria.…”

The global importance of EU climate policy: an introduction

“…Grievances provoked by such regressive policies were heightened by the knowledge that aviation fuel was exempt from taxes (Tubiana 2021). In January 2020, as part of its Sustainable Europe Investment Plan, the Commission proposed a Just Transition Mechanism as a tool to support more equitable decarbonization, 'leaving no one behind' (Sarkki et al 2022). The mechanism comprised the Just Transition Fund (JTF), supporting investment in alternatives for regions that are highly dependent on fossil fuels and high-emission industry sectors; the Just Transition scheme providing funding for a wide range of low-carbon investments; and a Public Loan Facility available to support eligible areas.…”