This book examines how the concept of the just transition - the idea that environmental and social concerns must be reconciled - has been implemented in European Union policies. Over the past decade, the just transition has gained traction in both policy and academic circles. With the introduction of the Just Transition Mechanism, the European Commission launched the world’s most ambitious attempt to mitigate the adverse social and economic effects of the European Green Deal. This book provides a timely and detailed examination of how the just transition unfolds in practice.

It opens with a conceptual overview of the just transition, followed by a chapter on the European Green Deal and the Just Transition Mechanism. Seven case study chapters then examine how the just transition unfolds in specific European regions. We synthesize the findings in the conclusion. The book develops a new theoretical framework for studying policy implementation. While most such studies focus on policymakers, the perspectives of those affected by policy, especially the marginalized, often remain absent. Each case study thus begins with the region’s history and the needs of its marginalized communities. The authors then assess how well these needs align with regional just transition policies.

Therefore, this book argues that it is epistemologically important to understand the lifeworld of policy recipients, particularly those who are marginalized, to comprehend how policy works. This helps determine whether the just transition can prevent resentment regarding climate policies. This book concludes that a just transition cannot be achieved unless community-level concerns are more aligned with regional, national, and European policy goals.