The transition to a low-carbon economy requires structural change. It is necessary to create new jobs for the people who lose their jobs in carbon-intensive sectors. Additionally, a transition requires a diversification of the economy and development of the renewable energy sector.

In scientific literature, a just transition is defined as a set of principles and practices, that are base their aspiration to a low-carbon economy on the idea of justness. Thereby a humane and a propitious future outlook has to be provided for workers and communities involved in the fossil fuel industry. The decision-making process should include the affected workers, among others, via social dialogue. Another principle of a just transition should be that workers should not have to pay for their income with their or their environment’s health.

Praxis has completed an analysis of opportunities for a just transition in Ida-Virumaa. The analysis contains three parts. It maps out the priorities of the new period of the perennial financial framework of the European Union and the resources concerning the just transition. Firstly, the mapping gives an idea of the activities the Estonian oil shale region could obtain funding for from the European Union. Secondly, we mapped out to what extent the national and regional development plan addresses a just transition and related questions. Thirdly, the analysis offers an overview of good examples of just transitions from all over the world. Additionally, Praxis makes recommendations for the implementation of a just transition in Estonia, of what to take into account and of the different phases of the process.