The transition to more sustainable energy systems is a necessity to address the pressing environmental challenges faced by all societies regardless of their levels of development, such as climate change, pollution and declining biodiversity. There is an urgent need for a transition to greener, more resilient and climate-neutral economies and societies. 

The term just transition originates in the context of discussions on how to achieve an energy transition in order to meet the environmental goals set - for example, the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda - without passing the cost on to the most vulnerable populations. However, today this term can be understood as a demand for a transition of the production sector as such. “A just transition involves maximizing the social and economic opportunities of climate action, while minimizing and carefully managing challenges, including through effective social dialogue between all affected groups and respect for fundamental labor principles and rights,” thus the International Labor Organization (ILO) defines it. 

A just transition therefore recognizes that environmental, social and economic aspects are tightly linked and can only be addressed holistically. Therefore, a just transition must, for example, seek ways to increase and complement energy and climate policy, while ensuring future employment opportunities for those who could be affected by the changes

caused by its implementation. A just transition means developing the economy as just and inclusive as possible, creating decent work opportunities and leaving no one behind. 

The initiatives implemented within the framework of the Strategic Alliance between ECLAC and Germany recognize and promote just transition as a fundamental element of their cooperation to contribute to sustainable development. In mining matters, through the “Regional Cooperation for Sustainable Management of Mineral Resources in the Andean Countries” (MinSus) project, the importance of addressing the fact that the energy transition implies an increase in the extraction of critical and strategic minerals, which has the potential to generate impacts on the environment and human rights, is considered. Therefore, this transition must take the voices and needs of communities in extractive territories into account.