Just Transition Summit 2025

Just Transition Summit 2025

Scotland’s Just Transition Commission held a national summit on 29 October at Dynamic Earth, in Edinburgh. The aim of the summit was to establish common ground on how a low-carbon economy can be built most fairly. Senior leaders from politics, industry, trade unions and environmental groups attended to agree what needs to happen next to ensure changes to bring down emissions are achieved as fairly as possible.

An important part of achieving a just transition is community engagement, which includes young people. Article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), now embedded in Scots Law states that children and young people have the right to be listened to and taken seriously; when adults are making decisions that affect children they should ask them what they think, adults should take account of children’s views when making the decisions and children should be supported to give their views in a way that is best for them.

What is the just transition?

The Just transition was established as an independent advisory body to provide scrutiny and advice on how to achieve Scottish Government’s commitment to Net Zero greenhouse emissions by 2045. The commission has been asked to undertake meaningful engagement with those most likely to be impacted, aiming to deliver the transition in a fair way, in a way that considers the needs of the communities who will be affected by changes.

Find out more about the Just Transition

The engagement process

As the national charity supporting community-based youth work, with a membership of over 2,300 youth groups, Youth Scotland is in a fantastic position to engage with its members and identify young people whose needs suit the project description. We have engaged with a diverse cohort of children and young people on their vision of how a just transition can deliver a fairer future whilst protecting the environment.

Following UNCRC Article 12 and the basic principles of youth participation, the young people identified to be part of the cohort were involved in our iLead training, making sure they were equipped with the tools and confidence they needed to take on the challenge. All young people who participated have worked towards a Climate Dynamic Youth Award that will translate their involvement in the project into SCQF-accredited points.

Young people attended a number of sessions focused on gathering, discussing, presenting and showcasing their priorities around ‘Scotland’s Clean, Green, Just Economic Future’.

The Residential

Youth Scotland hosted one focused residential event over the course of two days and two nights, to bring together the cohort of young people from across Scotland and the islands (including the targeted place-based approach areas of Grangemouth, Shetland, the north-east and Dumfries and Galloway).

During the residential, young people worked on their priorities and spent complementary sessions, identifying a number of priorities. An illustrator was present at the event and transformed young people’s ideas into beautiful illustrations.

The Just Transition Summit 2025

After months of preparation, the Young Advisors took the stage at the Just Transition Summit 2025. They presented in front of a room full of leaders with a truly admirable confidence and their voices were heard loud and clear.

Before the young people took the stage, the audience at Dynamic Earth heard from Scotland’s First Minister, John Swinney, two panels of professionals focusing on jobs and skills and investment, as well as a keynote from the Minister for Energy, Michael Shanks.

Michael Shanks took a couple of questions from the young people before they took the stage.

The young people delivered two energising ice-breakers to the audience. Through one of the exercises, they demanded consistent messaging from governments to avoid increasing the levels of climate anxiety and help them navigate their future.

Young people’s presentation to the audience focused on the following topics:

Travel

Young people in more rural areas, especially islanders, rely on transport for their day-to-day lives, and within the context of a just transition those needs should be considered.

• What will the government do to ensure islanders aren’t isolated if there are changes to buses, planes and ferries?

Unemployment

Young people highlighted that the government needs to support workers, their families and their communities in order to make the transition truly just.

• Does the government plan to be more lenient on workers or families affected by the transition when it comes to applying benefits? If so, what will this look like? If not, why?
• Does the government plan to support the retraining and upskilling of workers affected by the transition?

Education and skills

Young people’s main concern was that the educational needs of communities will be met, ensuring people can access information and are aware of the benefits of a Net Zero economy.

• How will the curriculum in schools change to support young people to prepare for careers in green energy sectors?

Mental health

Young people are facing job insecurity, financial insecurity and climate anxiety, and mental health services are already struggling to help those who need it. Young people demanded better mental health support.

• How will the government improve access to mental health support, specifically for young people in affected areas?

Families and communities

Young people brought to the stage the importance of role models. They look up to those in their families and communities, and described how their future ambitions will change as the jobs of their elders change.

• Young people raised their concerns on how the change to a green economy could shape their ambitions and the need for government to ensure a just transition is in place for young people’s elders so young people’s futures are not limited and they can keep following the steps of those who came before them.