Episode 8

Energy Justice and the Just Transition

Host: Zia-Melchior Hoseini

Guest: Marco Peretto, Policy Researcher Institute for European Energy and Climate Policy

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In this edition, EnergySpark turns to the social dimensions of the energy transition with Marco Peretto, who works on Territorial Just Transition Plans across Europe. The conversation explores how justice is defined, measured, and delivered when decarbonisation reshapes entire regions and communities. From coal-dependent areas to regions facing rapid industrial change, Marco shares insights into what makes plans credible, effective, and socially inclusive.

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This episode of Energy Spark features policy researcher and PhD candidate Marco Peretto on how EU projects support a just transition. Peretto explains that TANDEM and JUSTEM work with regional authorities and stakeholders to co-design inclusive transition pathways and to build capacity in coal regions around Territorial Just Transition Plans, while the project RENOVERTY focuses on alleviating rural energy poverty. Rather than “mapping who wins and loses,” these projects provide practical tools that help regions implement just-transition measures and evaluate their effects. Peretto argues that social and demographic dimensions are often under-assessed, and he advocates proactive workforce re-/up-skilling before layoffs to prevent unemployment and speed up economic diversification. He also underscores the importance of energy literacy and clear signposting of funding so that citizens and small businesses can actually benefit. To support evidence-based decision-making, he presents an Impact & Indicator Matrix—leveraging Eurostat data and complemented by qualitative engagement—to help policymakers quantify key transition impacts.

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