Advising on a resilient low carbon economy that is fair for all
About the Commission
The Just Transition Commission provides independent scrutiny and advice on how to deliver a just transition to a resilient, low carbon economy in Scotland
The Remit
The Just Transition Commission (JTC) is an independent advisory body, originally established in 2019, with a second Commission running from 2021 to 2026 and this the third iteration appointed from summer 2026 to April 2031.
The Scottish Government’s vision is to build a low-carbon and climate resilient Scotland. This brings great economic and social opportunities: job creation, improved health, green spaces, resilient services and cleaner air. There are also challenges: climate is already impacting communities through increased flooding , droughts, wildfires and more extreme weather. A just transition means protecting our workforce, creating new jobs, and protecting our most vulnerable communities from the impacts and costs of climate change.
The role of the Just Transition Commission is to support Scottish Ministers in the delivery and development of mitigation and adaptation policy by providing expert advice on related social and economic questions, including for employment. To do so, the JTC will draw on its programme of public engagement around critical delivery challenges in achieving emissions reductions and resilience in a fair way.
Specifically, the Commission will be tasked with:
supporting the development of Climate Change Plan and Scottish National Adaptation Plan, by assessing the social and economic challenges and opportunities inherent to these programmes, and making costed recommendations as to how costs and benefits can be distributed more equitably
engaging with impacted groups to help amplify under-represented perspectives and experiences, and considering how cumulative climate transition impacts are landing in particular places
advising on specific topics identified as critical for achieving a just transition, including by making costed recommendations where applicable
building understanding of diverse perspectives and experiences by bringing together government, business and industry, labour organisations, the third sector and communities, to consider the transition’s impact on people
supplement the Scottish Government’s work on monitoring and evaluation by developing an approach that makes use of real-time quantitative and qualitative data to provide early warning signals and inform anticipatory monitoring of the delivery of a just transition, drawing on the Commission’s engagement with communities and stakeholders across Scotland
helping to foster collaboration and exchange with peer bodies in the UK and internationally, including through the work of the International Just Transition Network, and by sharing key learnings bilaterally and within the UNFCCC framework.
The Commission’s work will combine sustained, high-level scrutiny of policy development and delivery, with projects on strategically critical topics. At the start of each work year, the Minister for Business and Fair Work will write to the Commission advising it of planned government work that can help inform the development of the Commission’s own work plan. This will support discussion of specific topics of high strategic importance for a just transition on which the Commission’s advice would be welcomed.
The independent commission will be responsible for developing its own work plan with the support from the Just Transition Commission Secretariat and within the budget and resources provided. In the process of carrying out its functions, the Commission will be expected to engage widely with those likely to be affected by particular policies during the transition to a low carbon, resilient Scotland, particularly with the business sector, workers, trade unions, community organisations and young people.
The Commission will also be expected to take in to account wider equalities, including all protected characteristics. There will be a budget to support additional information and evidence gathering, including research projects if required, and the Commission is expected to fulfil its work plan within agreed allocations of time.
Details on the second Just Transition Commission, appointed December 2021 through to April 2026 can be viewed on the JTC 2 page. All work and publications are available in the relevant areas on this website.
The Just Transition Commission is fully committed to openness and transparency. Governance arrangements are currently being updated with the new Commission and Scottish Government and will be published later in 2026.
