Leaders from Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Pacific have reaffirmed their commitment to advancing a just energy transition for small island developing states. During the Sustainable Energy for All forum, ministers from 28 countries emphasised the urgent need for climate finance to support energy transitions and resilience. They endorsed a call to action advocating for ambitious climate plans, equitable finance distribution, local capacity building, and innovative technologies.

Romania has adopted an emergency ordinance to support just transition in the Jiu Valley, allocating RON 3.93 billion (around EUR 790 million) up to 2032. More than RON 225 million (EUR 45 million) will go to miner compensation and RON 5.97 million (EUR 1.2 million) to retraining. The plan aims to ensure safe mine closures and coal neutralisation by 2030. It also promotes renewable, biofuel, and gas-fired energy investments to sustain the Jiu Valley’s role in national energy production and enable economic diversification.

KenGen Chief Executive Peter Njenga’s appointment as co-chair of the Business 20 (B20) Task Force on Energy Mix and Just Transition under South Africa’s G20 presidency has elevated Kenya’s role in global energy governance. This milestone reflects Kenya’s success in adopting renewable energy, with over 90% of the country’s electricity now coming from clean sources. Njenga’s leadership offers a platform for sharing Kenya’s expertise, advocating for equitable energy transitions, and positioning Africa as a key contributor to global climate action.

The Colorado Public Utilities Commission is seeking public input on Xcel Energy’s just transition solicitation, part of its 2024 Electric Resource Plan. The solicitation aims to ensure reliable service, reduce emissions, and support communities affected by coal plant retirements in Pueblo, Craig, and Hayden, Colorado, by 2031. Three public hearings will be held in April and May 2025. Community feedback will inform the commission’s review, with a final decision expected in August 2025.

Nemanja Laković, Executive Director of Pljevlja Coal Mine (RUP) in Montenegro, has announced a Just Transition Plan through Business Transformation featuring 12 new ventures aimed at reducing coal dependency. Proposed activities include construction services, biomass and solar energy production, IT services, mechanical workshops, and electric vehicle maintenance. Laković highlighted the absence of external funding for non-EU countries and emphasised the need for access to accession funds to support these projects and ensure a fair transition for affected workers.

Cerrejón, Colombia’s largest coal mine, which is operated by Glencore, has announced plans to reduce its annual coal production by 5 million to 10 million tonnes, lowering output to between 11 million and 16 million tonnes. The decision is attributed to unsustainable prices for seaborne thermal coal. Despite the reduction, Cerrejón emphasised that existing social and environmental commitments will remain unaffected. In 2024, the mine produced 19.1 million tonnes of coal, down 13% from 2023 due to community blockades, delays in issuing permits, and heavy rainfall.

Nigerian labour unions, supported by Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, have unveiled a Workers’ Charter of Demands to ensure a just transition to a low-carbon economy. Key demands include job security, creation of new green jobs, access to decent work with fair wages and safe conditions, social protection, skills development, and the establishment of a just transition fund. The charter emphasises prioritising workers’ rights and well-being during the shift to sustainable energy.

Pakistan has announced plans to develop an Energy Transition and Investment Plan at the Sustainable Energy for All Global Forum 2025. The new strategic initiative aims to accelerate the shift towards a clean, affordable, and sustainable energy future by creating a long-term investment roadmap, enhancing energy security through renewable solutions, fostering a just transition with green job opportunities, and attracting investments to address systemic inefficiencies.

Elrika Hamdi, deputy director of Indonesia’s Just Energy Transition Partnership secretariat, has stated that the primary challenge in Indonesia’s clean energy transition is not funding but the viability of renewable energy projects. Many renewable projects are small and scattered across the archipelago, making them less attractive to investors. She highlighted that state utility PLN has slowed renewable deployment, and suggested that investors focus on captive power projects.

After the United States withdrew its funding – USD 56 million in grant funds and USD 1 billion in commercial debt and equity – from South Africa’s Just Energy Transition Partnership, the International Partners Group issued a statement reaffirming their continued support for South Africa’s just energy transition goals. The group, which includes the European Union, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, emphasised its commitment to fill the funding gap.

Around 80 leaders from coastal fishing communities and Amazonian Indigenous groups affected by oil spills gathered in Ventanilla, Peru, on 28–29 March for the MarAmazonía workshop. The event addressed the environmental and social impacts of oil activity, particularly the 2022 Repsol spill, and strengthened advocacy for a just energy transition. Participants drafted proposals to phase out hydrocarbons and demand state action on remediation, reparation, and the protection of affected territories and livelihoods.

Since 2019, Germany’s energy transition sector has more than doubled its job offers, reaching 372,500 in 2024. Solar energy positions have surged to 102,000 from 41,500, and wind energy roles have increased by 70% to nearly 53,000. Despite this growth, a shortage of skilled workers is creating challenges, with half of the positions lacking sufficient applicants, and employers forced to hire applicants who lack traditional education or experience.

The South African Cabinet has approved the South African Renewable Energy Masterplan (SAREM), a long-awaited industrial policy instrument developed over several years. SAREM aims to unlock green industrialisation by aligning the country’s renewable energy rollout with domestic industrial development. It supports technologies such as solar PV, wind, battery storage, and green hydrogen. The plan seeks to create jobs, boost local manufacturing, and position South Africa as a renewable energy hub within a sustainable energy transition.

The U.K. government has initiated an eight-week consultation to guide the energy transition in the North Sea, focusing on shifting from oil and gas to renewable energy sources. This consultation seeks input on leveraging existing infrastructure and expertise to deploy new technologies, such as offshore wind, carbon capture and storage, and hydrogen production. The initiative aims to ensure a just transition for workers and communities, maintaining energy security while achieving net-zero emissions.

On 20 March, Colombia’s Ministry of Mines and Energy launched technical committees to develop proposals on energy transition, tariff reduction, and sustainable mining. Involving unions, think tanks, and legislators, the initiative prioritises labour rights and union participation in the just transition. Region-specific agreements will be developed, including a resolution enabling 140,000 electricians to extend networks without engineering approval. The ministry is urging broad stakeholder participation to shape an inclusive and sustainable energy future.

At a public discussion in Jakarta during the event Ramadan Festival: Islamic Philanthropy for Climate Action, faith and climate action came together to advance a just energy transition in Indonesia. Speakers highlighted initiatives like Energy Alms, which aims to install solar panels in mosques, showing how religious institutions can drive grassroots change. Government officials, including from the Manpower Ministry, stressed the need for social protections, skills mapping, and gender equality to ensure the transition is truly just.

India’s coal mine closure process is suffering severe delays, threatening environmental safety and a just transition for coal-dependent communities. Of 299 non-operational mines identified by Coal India Limited, only a few have begun formal closure. Many sites remain un-reclaimed, posing risks to land and livelihoods. Experts are calling for stronger financial support, land rehabilitation, and workforce reskilling to ensure a fair and sustainable transition as India moves towards its net-zero goals.

In a joint interview, participants from China’s Shanxi province and Indonesia’s East Kalimantan and South Sumatra—major coal-producing regions—reflected on an exchange in July 2024, when representatives from both regions convened to share strategies for transitioning away from coal dependency. They highlighted shared challenges such as economic diversification, investment needs, and workforce reskilling. The conversation emphasised the value of mutual learning and collaboration to ensure a just transition of affected communities.