A just and green transition is at the heart of meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. 

However, shifting economies at the necessary scale and speed can have economic and social consequences. Job losses can occur in certain sectors, social inequality and civil unrest can increase, and impacts can be felt across economies. 

At the same time, evidence has shown that the reverse can also be true: when managed well, the transition can be a powerful driver of green job creation, social justice, and poverty eradication. With fairness, inclusivity, and transparency at the heart of the transition, communities, workers, and countries can unlock opportunities for prosperity.

The aim of this paper is to describe the characteristics of a just transition to a net-zero, climate resilient and nature-positive future for both public and private sector actors, and identify supporting principles, processes and practices that can be applied across country contexts.

This report emerges from UNDP’s country-level experiences, engagement with global dialogues on climate, nature, and justice, and deep analysis across methodologies, tools, and frameworks. It includes lessons from current practices and emphasizes the crucial aspects of climate action and nature restoration as fundamental drivers of the just transition.