Our Policy Opinion on the Revised Territorial Just Transition Plans
Energiaklub Climate Policy Institute actively participated in the technical assistance project "Supporting the Implementation of the Just Transition Fund in Hungary" commissioned by the European Commission between 2021 and 2023. The beneficiaries of the project were the Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Public Administration and Justice. During the project, our aim was to develop the framework for the implementation of the Territorial Just Transition Plans (TJTPs) and to support local stakeholders in creating a just and environmentally friendly transition.
Since the TJTPs play a crucial role in the just implementation of the energy transition, it is of paramount importance to Energiaklub that the revised plans include fundamental changes that provide not only economically, but also socially sustainable solutions.
We have identified numerous shortcomings and contradictions in the revised plans that make it difficult to achieve a just transition in the most affected regions and local communities. Specifically, we address the failure to set a date for the cessation of lignite mining, shortcomings in the situation analysis, the equitable distribution of funds, the necessity for sustainable residential heating solutions, as well as the risk posed by several unnecessary new measures and omitted programs that jeopardize the project’s goals.
These changes indicate that the revised TJTPs lack a proper foundation and organic connections, as well as plans for the unjustified allocation of funds. Therefore, in our policy opinion, we recommend returning to the measures outlined in the previous TJT plans.
If this is not possible and/or if the aim is to utilize the funds with simpler administration and shorter timelines, we believe it would be appropriate to reallocate the Just Transition Fund resources to the well-prepared KEHOP Plus calls (e.g., KEHOP-Plus-2.2.1), which also align with the objectives of the Just Transition.
In the attached document below, you can read more about our policy reasoning and recommendations regarding the revised TJTPs, in Hungarian.
