Prospects for a just transition in Asia: Navigating opportunities and challenges

Since at the centre of climate crisis is an inevitable change, the change towards a low-emission future, we should find a consensus about how we want our transformation to play out. In this context, the concept of a Just Transition was established by global trade unions, and has been further refined ever since, highlighting the need to provide a holistic approach to the fight against climate change. A Just Transition requires putting people at the centre of the transformation, which means taking into account their human rights, their needs, and their will to solve the climate crisis and leave a livable planet to their children. Only then can our transformation be just, inclusive, and equitable.

There can not be a one-size-fits-all solution to the decarbonization of our economies, the energy transition, and the social ecological transformation of our cities. Therefore, FES fosters diversity in the answers that we can all learn from. This publication will take you on a journey to discover a solution. It will take you to a number of Asian countries, showcasing recent developments in the various policy fields in which the concept of Just Transition is enshrined. It will highlight international accomplishments together with their national and local implementation. Not limited to the positive side, the publication will also look at the shortcomings of recent efforts and problematic schemes for implementing lowcarbon technologies.

This comprehensive approach reflects our belief that a Just Transition can only be understood and effectively realized if we continuously bridge discourses and policies across the international, national, and local levels. On every level, we will find different obstacles and capacities to deal with climate change. Actors from different spheres almost speak different languages, which FES is determined to bridge to provide mind-expanding examples and discussions.

This editorial includes following articles:

• Driving change: Thailand's electric vehicle transition
• Towards a healthier and more just future
• A path to sustainable and just cities
• Unseen consequences: Ignoring gender in just transition
• Financing solar power in urban social housing
• The plastic paradox: pollution, caste and livelihoods
• Colombia´s pioneering Just Transition process: Insights and learnings

Next to the articles, you will find a section with book previews, highlighting a few of the books and studies that FES has worked on recently in Asia:

• Climate Actioneers’ Primer: A Beginner’s Toolkit
• Pathways Towards a Just Transition to Carbon Neutrality in China
• The Transformation of Southern Medium-Sized Cities Toward Climate Change Resilience: The Cases of Ben Tre and Binh Duong provinces

We wanted to introduce them here to provide you with a more comprehensive understanding of our work. These are the long-term efforts of not only all the colleagues but also our partners in Asia.

We wish you a thought-provoking, insightful read.