The SDSN Showcases Four Inspirational Just Transition Initiatives During the High-Level Political Forum 2026
In March 2026, the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) launched a global call for initiatives demonstrating that a transition to a low-carbon economy can be both effective and equitable. Following an extensive review of all submissions, the SDSN is pleased to showcase four particularly compelling initiatives as part of a campaign taking place alongside the UN High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) 2026.
These initiatives showcase how different regions are addressing local challenges while ensuring that climate action creates opportunities, protects livelihoods, strengthens communities, and leaves no one behind.
Each initiative is presented in a short video introducing the respective challenge, the solution developed, the impact achieved so far, and ambitions for the future. These practical insights serve as inspiration for others advancing just transitions in their own contexts.
Australia: Smart Stormwater Systems for Climate Adaptation
Developed by Adelaide University, a member of SDSN Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific, this initiative reveals how technology helps protect vulnerable urban communities from the growing impacts of climate change.
Using machine learning and real-time monitoring, Smart Stormwater Systems transform existing drainage infrastructure into actively managed networks that reduce flood risks while capturing stormwater to irrigate urban green spaces. By retrofitting existing infrastructure, the project strengthens resilience without displacing residents or removing established urban trees.
The initiative illustrates how climate adaptation simultaneously improves environmental outcomes, public health, and social equity.
Watch the project video here.
Chile: Just Transition Observatory and Design Unit – Territorial Knowledge and Territorial Solutions
Developed by the Institute for Sustainable Development at Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, a member of SDSN Andes, this initiative strengthens climate governance by connecting evidence with community-led decision-making.
The Just Transition Observatory combines territorial data, citizen science, and equity indicators to monitor progress across multiple regions, while a complementary Design Unit works directly with communities to co-design pilot projects and policy solutions. Together, these mechanisms create a continuous process of monitoring, participation, and adaptation.
The initiative showcases how robust data and meaningful public participation help translate just transition principles into practical action.
Watch the project video here.
South Africa: Equipping the Workforce for a Just Transition in the Automotive Sector
As the global automotive industry shifts towards Net-Zero and New Energy Vehicles (NEVs), South Africa’s automotive sector faces the dual challenge of adapting to technological change while addressing long-standing social inequalities. Implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and the International Labour Organization (ILO), this initiative supports a just transition by developing inclusive approaches to workforce reskilling and upskilling.
Anchored in academic research from South African universities, the initiative brings together government, industry, labour representatives, and education providers through province-level social dialogue to co-design skills development programmes. By placing workers at the center of the just transition and addressing barriers linked to race, gender, and geography, it demonstrates how inclusive decision-making helps ensure the benefits of industrial transformation are shared more equitably.
Watch the project video here.
Spain: Just Transition Institute (ITJ) and CIUDEN Foundation
Within Spain’s Just Transition Strategy, implemented under the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO), the Just Transition Institute (ITJ) leads the implementation of just transition policies, while the CIUDEN Foundation supports the development and monitoring of Just Transition Zones and contributes to territorial innovation initiatives. Together, they exemplify how former coal regions can create new economic opportunities while preserving their industrial heritage and local identity.
Through an integrated portfolio of complementary initiatives, CIUDEN has transformed former industrial sites into spaces for culture, education, employment, and community engagement. This includes La Térmica Cultural, a former coal-fired power plant converted into a cultural venue; The Light Factory Energy Museum, which preserves industrial heritage while promoting public education; and CIUDEN Vivero, a vocational training centre that equips people with skills for emerging sectors and boasts an incredible 90% employability rate within six months of graduation.
Together, these initiatives highlight how cultural regeneration, heritage preservation, and workforce development help former coal regions honor their industrial past while building a more sustainable future.
Watch the project video here.
Looking Ahead
The four selected initiatives highlight the breadth of approaches being developed across the SDSN network for advancing just transitions in various contexts. Explore the full collection of project videos here.
The SDSN welcomes continued engagement with the Mapping the Just Transition initiative. We look forward to continuing to showcase practical solutions that help advance a just and equitable transition worldwide.
This initiative was made possible thanks to the kind collaboration of Siemens Energy. If you know of other initiatives that could inform this work, please contact info@unsdsn.org.