In this interview, GGKP spoke with Diana Alejandra Quezada Avila, Senior Program Officer at GGGI’s Center for Thought Leadership and Innovation, who contributed to GGGI's flagship publication,Just Transition in LT-LEDS: A Review of G20 Submissions. Drawing on the report's findings, the conversation examines what it takes to move from broad commitments to implementation-ready strategies and practical actions that support workers, communities, and businesses throughout the transition process.
1. From your review of G20 LT-LEDS, what is the difference between simply mentioning “just transition” and actually making it operational in a long-term strategy?
One of the clearest findings from our review is that many countries recognize the importance of a just transition, but fewer have translated that recognition into concrete implementation measures.
Two-thirds of G20 strategies mention just transition in their long-term strategies. However, operationalizing just transition requires much more than a statement of intent. Most countries treat just transition as a principle rather than a plan. They explain why it matters, but not how it will happen.
To translate principle into action, countries need to develop policies and reallocate financial resources to specific actions that can ensure that vulnerable communities are protected and resources are allocated.
2. What should governments do to move from generic categories like “vulnerable groups” to practical, targeted support?
The review found that many long-term strategies still describe affected groups and regions in broad terms. Only 29% of strategies discuss regional and rural development implications, and even fewer identify specific regions negatively affected by the transition.
Moving from broad categories to targeted support requires stronger evidence and stakeholder engagement. GGGI recommends countries to develop economic and demographic assessments in order to pinpoint exactly which communities and which groups are going to be the most affected, who will pay for the transition, and how to benefit the most with cost-effective actions.
The more precise the assessment, the more effective and equitable the policy response will be.
3. From a private sector perspective, what should companies look for in an LT-LEDS — and what actions can they take now to align their business models, workforce planning, and investment decisions with a just transition?
From a private sector perspective, LT-LEDS should be viewed as a signal of a country's long-term economic direction.
Although many LT-LEDS discuss green growth opportunities, innovation, and workforce development, fewer provide detailed information on investment requirements, transition risks, affected industries, or stranded assets.
Private sector stakeholders should refer to sector-specific timelines, sector-specific risk assessments, investment and financial needs. They shall refer to these strategies in order to find out the needs for workforce development, the diversification of supply chains for a just transition, and to review their business models in order to avoid risks for a just transition.
4. How can LT-LEDS better connect just transition with investment and finance decisions?
One of the most significant gaps identified in the review relates to finance. Only 12% of strategies establish any connection between investment needs and just transition principles. The finding showcases that linking investment needs with financial availability are key to moving from principle to action.
To address this, LT-LEDS should clearly estimate investment needs, identify financing sources, and establish mechanisms for mobilizing both public and private capital. Strategies should also consider how investments can support workers and communities affected by the transition rather than focusing exclusively on emissions reductions.
Strengthening this connection can help ensure that the costs and benefits of the transition are distributed more fairly. It also provides greater certainty for investors and development partners seeking to support implementation.
5. What would a stronger workforce transition look like in practice?
Workforce development is one of the best-covered areas in G20 LT-LEDS, with 76% of strategies mentioning it. However, many strategies do not clearly explain how workers in declining industries will connect to emerging green employment opportunities.
A stronger workforce transition would begin with understanding where jobs are likely to be lost and where new opportunities are expected to emerge. Governments can then develop targeted pathways that help workers move between sectors.
This requires aligning education, training, and capacity-building with future labour market needs. Countries need to focus on reskilling programs at the regional level and to provide warranties for job-seekers in new industries with new skills building bottom-up.
6. What should international organizations and development partners take from this review when supporting countries to update LT-LEDS, NDCs, or just transition plans?
As countries prepare to update their LT-LEDS, Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and just transition plans, the findings from Just Transition in LT-LEDS: A Review of G20 Submissions highlight the importance of moving beyond ambition and toward implementation. The report provides recommendations to international stakeholders on how to improve and accelerate just transitions in future policy developments.
Key takeaways from the review include building bottom-up approach at the regional and local level, looking into specific vulnerability assessments and detailing vulnerable groups, supporting work skills development at the regional level, establishing financial needs at sector level.
International organizations and development partners can play an important role by supporting data collection, analytical capacity, stakeholder engagement processes, and policy development. They can also help countries identify financing options, strengthen institutional coordination, and establish monitoring frameworks that track both climate and social outcomes.
Ensuring that climate transitions are fair, inclusive, and actionable will be essential for achieving both climate and development goals in the decades ahead.
To read the full report, please visit: https://gggi.org/report/just-transition-in-lt-leds-a-review-of-g20-submissions/
To view the interview in video format, please click: https://youtu.be/_zfvLZ6oxQg
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