A new Research Topic developed through the collaboration between EERA JP e3s and Frontiers in Sustainable Energy Policy has been completed, bringing together new research on one of the key challenges of the energy transition: how to ensure that decarbonisation is not only effective, but also fair, inclusive and socially sustainable.

The Research Topic, “Advancing the Just Transition: Navigating Towards a Sustainable Future”, brings together nine research contributions covering a broad range of geographical contexts, disciplines and methodological approaches. The collection explores how questions of equity, participation, governance and social legitimacy influence the way energy and climate transitions are designed and experienced.

The contributions address themes at the heart of JP e3s research, including participatory and democratic governance, socio-technical transitions, energy poverty and climate equity, Indigenous knowledge and recognition justice, and the cultural dimensions of sustainability transitions. Case studies range from energy infrastructure and citizen participation to Sámi communities affected by wind energy development, support for vulnerable households, global bioenergy systems and climate-neutral European cities.

A central message emerging from the collection is that a successful energy transition cannot be assessed through technological performance or emissions reductions alone. How decisions are made, whose voices and knowledge are included, and how the costs and benefits of transition are distributed are equally important for building public trust and political legitimacy. The Research Topic also highlights the need to better address areas that remain underexplored, including gender, the experiences of the Global South, the political economy of the transition and the long-term impact of participatory processes.

The initiative is the result of a collaboration between JP e3s and Frontiers in Sustainable Energy Policy, with JP e3s supporting the development of the Research Topic and the participation of selected contributions from its research community. The concluding editorial was authored by Manfred Paier (AIT), Ramazan Sari (DTU), Giuseppe Pellegrini-Masini (ENEA), Alessandro Sciullo (UNITO), Margherita Menon (EERA) and Sanya Carley (University of Pennsylvania).

The Special Issue provides researchers, policymakers and practitioners with new evidence and perspectives for understanding the just transition as a multidimensional challenge, connecting technological transformation with social inclusion, democratic participation and justice.

READ THE EDITORIAL AND EXPLORE THE FULL RESEARCH TOPIC