Policy Paper: Ensuring a Socially Just Green Transition
Today, Eurodiaconia launches its first policy paper on Just Transition, entitled “Ensuring a Socially Just Green Transition.” This publication articulates Eurodiaconia’s strategic approach to the topic of Just Transition, highlighting the numerous challenges encountered by individuals and social service providers amidst the shift to a low-carbon economy. Furthermore, it offers insightful recommendations aimed at fostering an environment where social service providers and vulnerable populations can thrive during the green transition, rather than being unduly burdened by it.
The need for a Just Transition
Recent climate events highlight the pressing necessity for a transition to a carbon-neutral economy and society. However, while climate change negatively affects health, housing, food access, and employment, inadequately designed environmental measures can also disproportionately impact the rights of vulnerable populations already burdened by climate change. Therefore, it is crucial to ensure that the green transition is also socially just.
Social Service Providers as pivotal actors for a Just Transition
Social service providers play a dual role in ensuring a green and just transition. On one hand, they mitigate climate change by greening their services and promoting sustainable practices within communities they serve. On the other, they support individuals affected by climate change and the negative social impact of some environmental policies.
The challenges to ensure a socially just Transition
Vulnerable individuals continue to face significant challenges related to climate change and the transition to a carbon-neutral economy. Similarly, social service providers encounter various obstacles in their dual role of mitigating climate change and supporting vulnerable populations throughout this transition. These challenges include escalating climate issues, insufficient funding for social service providers, the impending increase in carbon prices, and the complex EU legal framework.
Recommendations to the EU Institutions and Member-states
Eurodiaconia emphasizes several key recommendations for EU Institutions and Member States to, among other objectives, ensure sustainable funding for social service providers within the context of the green transition. Furthermore, these recommendations aim to mitigate the increase in carbon prices and create an enabling environment for social service providers to effectively fulfil their dual role in a just transition.
