Making the Just Transition Work: Institutional Voices and Regional Solutions from Romania

This online event, organised by Pur și Simplu Verde in collaboration with the Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change (CMCC), will present and discuss the findings of research conducted in Romania within the European Horizon AdJUST project.

The webinar is proposed as an EU Climate Pact Satellite Event and will take place on 25 September 2026. A successful transition to climate neutrality depends not only on climate targets and funding instruments, but also on the capacity of national, regional and local institutions to translate policies into tangible opportunities for workers and communities. 

The event will examine how Romania’s just transition is being implemented in practice, focusing on employment, skills development, professional retraining, institutional coordination and the specific needs of regions undergoing major economic transformation. The discussion will be informed by interviews conducted for the AdJUST report with representatives of county employment agencies, regional development agencies, the Ministry of Investments and European Projects and the Ministry of Labour. Representatives of these institutions will be invited to reflect on the report’s findings, share their direct experience and discuss the barriers they encounter when supporting workers, employers and communities affected by the transition. 

The event will address several key questions: 

• How can climate policies create credible employment and economic opportunities in regions affected by decarbonisation? 
• Are existing training and professional reconversion programmes sufficiently aligned with local labour-market needs? 
• How can national, regional and local institutions cooperate more effectively?
• What institutional and administrative obstacles delay the implementation of just transition measures? 
• How can workers, local communities and other affected groups be more meaningfully involved in decisions? 
• Which lessons from Romania could be relevant to other European regions facing similar challenges? 

The webinar will combine a presentation of the report’s main findings and recommendations with a moderated discussion involving institutional stakeholders and representatives of Pur și Simplu Verde. Participants will also be able to contribute questions and perspectives, helping connect research findings with practical experience and public concerns.

The event supports the objectives of the European Climate Pact by promoting informed public dialogue, strengthening cooperation among climate stakeholders and bringing the social dimension of climate action to the forefront. It will help make the just transition more accessible to a wider audience by explaining how European climate commitments affect employment, skills, public services and regional development. Particular attention will be paid to ensuring that the transition is inclusive and responsive to local realities. Climate neutrality cannot be achieved fairly if affected workers and communities lack access to information, training, employment opportunities or meaningful participation.

By bringing together researchers, public institutions, civil society and interested citizens, the webinar will create a space for identifying practical solutions and translating research evidence into policy recommendations. The event is intended for public authorities, employment and regional development professionals, civil-society organisations, researchers, employers, trade unions, Climate Pact Ambassadors and citizens interested in climate policy and regional development. Participation will be free of charge and open to the public upon registration.

The main conclusions emerging from the discussion will be used to support the dissemination of the AdJUST report and to encourage continued dialogue among institutions and stakeholders working to ensure that Romania’s transition to a climate-neutral economy is socially fair, locally grounded and capable of delivering lasting opportunities.