Transitioning countries away from coal—the world's most dominant and most carbon-intensive source of energy—is crucial to ensuring a clean energy future.
A well-managed retirement of coal power plants and a massive scale-up in clean energy are essential to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and the targets of the Paris Agreement.
A "Just Transition for All" initiative puts people and communities at the center of the transition. The initiative works with stakeholders to create the plans, policies, and reforms needed to mitigate environmental impacts, support impacted people, and build a new clean energy future.
The World Bank has decades of experience supporting countries where coal mines and power plants are closing, wherever they are in the transition process. This includes looking at the interdependencies between the decommissioning of coal assets—such as mining, transport, and power plants—and developing renewable energy programs to take their place. Since 1995, we have provided more than $3 billion to support governments close coal mines and power plants and ensure a Just Transition that safeguards jobs and income in affected communities.
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In Depth
A Polish Coal Town Reimagines its Future
Phasing out coal is one of the most vital steps to fighting #climatechange and protecting the planet. A Just Transition from coal to cleaner energy offers communities significant economic and social opportunities as well. The town of Libiąż, Poland, located in a centuries-old coal mining region, is in the midst of this transition.
Global Perspective on Coal Jobs and Managing Labor Transition out of Coal
The report offers recommendations on how governments can prepare for job losses that arise from future mine closure and highlights policies to support workers through the transition period and into alternative employment.
Managing Coal Mine Closure: Achieving a Just Transition for All (English)
This report aims to share with governments lessons learned regarding coal mine closure. The full set of coal mine closure issues is diverse with few positive case studies to date to draw on.
A Road Map for a Managed Transition of Coal-Dependent Regions in Western ...
As the global energy transition progresses, regions that produce and consume coal face unique and complex challenges. No matter the global nature of the challenge, successful transition solutions must begin locally and look well beyond simply the question of energy. This was found to be true in the case of Western Macedonia.
Just Coal Transition in Western Macedonia, Greece: Insights from the Labor ...
This report analyzes the consequences for the labor force of Western Macedonia’s (Greece) decarbonization as part of Europe’s new Green Deal.
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The World Bank's Engagement in Just Transition in Poland - Summary and Outlook
Just Transition for All: A Feminist Approach for the Coal Sector
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Tech Tools Help Map a Future For Post-coal Communities
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