Minister Ryan secures Government agreement to establish a new Just Transition Commission

Report of the Just Transition Taskforce published

The Government has, on 30 April, approved the establishment of a new Just Transition Commission to provide advice on how to ensure a just transition to climate neutrality in Ireland.

The Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications Eamon Ryan TD has also published the final report of the Just Transition Taskforce, which has informed the Terms of Reference of the new Just Transition Commission.

The Just Transition Commission will:

• Prepare and analyse strategic evidence-based research in relation to the Just Transition, to anticipate and inform long-term climate policy and investment planning.
• Evaluate, advise and comment on policy planning and implementation and progress on the application of Ireland's Just Transition principles into national and sectoral climate policies, based on high-quality, evidence-based analysis.
• Provide strategic advice and engagement on the Just Transition; the Commission will support the National Dialogue on Climate Action, as well as any dialogues on climate/just transition matters within individual sectors.
• The Commission may undertake proactive engagement with particular communities, sectors or regions facing specific acute or long-term challenges arising from the transition, and advise Government on interventions or targeted supports which may be helpful to address the challenges being faced by that community, sector or region.

While the transition to a climate-neutral economy will be challenging, the establishment of a Commission provides an opportunity to put in place a body with a mission to provide authority, expertise, and advocacy leadership to support the Government and stakeholders throughout society in managing this transition.

In providing advice to the Government on how Ireland should ensure no one is left behind while delivering on its climate ambitions, the new Commission will complement the existing role of the Climate Change Advisory Council. The statutory mandate of the advisory council is to advise the Minister and Government in relation to climate mitigation and adaptation policies necessary to meet Ireland's statutory National Climate Objective. The Commission will work closely with the advisory council to ensure there is no overlap in their respective mandates and work programmes.

Membership of the new Commission will comprise of nominees from the five pillars of social dialogue (Agriculture; Community and Voluntary; Employer; Environment; and Trade Union pillars) together with individuals with expertise in a range of relevant disciplines including human rights and equality, skills development, rural and community development, social inclusion, the green economic transition, and youth perspectives.

The Commission will have an independent chair.

Commenting, Minister Ryan said:

"A just transition is the fastest way to a green transition, and the only way that guarantees that we bring everybody with us as we move to a climate-neutral economy.

"The Commission will be the public voice of a Just Transition. It will work to anticipate and inform long-term climate policy by focusing on the potential impacts, risks and opportunities arising from the climate transition for different sectors of the economy and society, in particular those at most risk of being left behind. We have to be innovative and flexible in the way we approach this transition, ensuring that it works from the bottom up.

"I would like to thank the Chair of the Taskforce, Mr Kieran Mulvey, and each of the Taskforce members, for their work and contributions to developing the Taskforce report and recommendations, on the basis of which I have now secured Government approval to proceed with establishing the new Commission."

The Minister will launch a recruitment campaign to appoint members to the new Commission very shortly, with a view to its formal establishment and first meeting in Q3 of this year.

Just Transition Taskforce

The Just Transition Taskforce was convened by Minister Ryan in September 2023 with the mandate to provide recommendations to the Minister and Government on the establishment of a long-term Just Transition Commission. The Taskforce met on a number of occasions since then and presented its final report to the Minister in February 2024.

You can read more about the Taskforce, its Final Report and the Terms of Reference of the new Just Transition Commission on the Department's website.

ENDS

Notes to the editor

Just Transition Policy Framework

The Government, through the Climate Action Plan, has adopted an overarching framework for policy development, which takes a principles-based approach to define the Just Transition in Ireland. This framework comprises four principles, which align with the ILO Guidelines, UNFCCC and EU frameworks and recommendations, enabling their application across diverse sectors:

• An integrated, structured, and evidence-based approach to identify and plan our response to just transition requirements;
• People being equipped with the right skills to be able to participate in and benefit from the future net zero economy;
• The costs shared, so that the impact is equitable and existing inequalities are not exacerbated; and
• Social dialogue to ensure impacted citizens and communities are empowered and are core to the transition process.

In line with the Government's ambition that these principles be steadily mainstreamed into climate policy, key sectors are now integrating these principles in the design of their respective policies and measures through the annual Climate Action Plan.