Consulting the public on a Just Transition to Net Zero for Wales

Recognising that a fair transition to net zero must be effectively planned and coordinated, the Welsh Government has proposed a Just Transition Framework for Wales. This framework, informed by a call for evidence and discussions with stakeholders, aims to create a common vision for implementing actions to tackle climate change while also considering social equity.

To actively engage the public and inform the final Just Transition Framework, the Welsh Government launched a consultation on the proposed framework and a series of 'Climate Conversations' events.

The consultation on the Just Transition Framework was open from 4 December 2023 to 11 March 2024 and included 12 open-format questions focusing on eight key areas: integration, vision, guiding principles, evidence base, mobilising stakeholders and engagement, toolkit, planning, and effects on the Welsh language. In parallel, the government-funded Climate Conversations were held before, during, and after Wales Climate Week 2023, exploring how to tackle climate change fairly.

Our research team read all responses to the consultation, as well as the reports produced for each Climate Conversation event, manually and in full. Each response was analysed thematically to capture the main opinions expressed by respondents and understand the reasoning behind answers. Given that the consultation and the Climate Conversations differed in their precise areas of focus, the thematic analysis was initially carried out separately for the two data sources. At a later stage, the findings were synthesised to draw out the most common themes across both forms of public engagement and any areas where they diverged.

Based on the themes identified in the analysis and regular project team meetings, a comprehensive Thematic Framework was developed to structure and guide the research. The Thematic Framework included the initial set of themes gained from the analyses and guidance for the researchers in the form of descriptions and examples of each theme. By creating and agreeing on a ‘definition’ and a set of representative examples for each theme, consistency in thematic coding across all research team members and both research activities was ensured. The Thematic Framework was continuously updated as the analysis was carried out.

The consultation revealed the need for a clear, actionable strategy with robust stakeholder engagement. Respondents stressed the importance of inclusivity and equality throughout the transition and of including concrete guidance in the framework such as examples and case studies of best practices. They further emphasised the role of the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 in supporting a holistic approach.

The reports from the Climate Conversation events prominently featured the need for community-level solutions, financial support, enhanced transport infrastructure, and investment in education and training. They also called for fair involvement in climate action, ensuring broad community participation and that vulnerable groups, in particular, were actively engaged.

Themes that were raised in both the responses to the consultation and the Climate Conversations included the importance of (i) considerations around business and employment, (ii) implementing community-based initiatives, and (iii) the need for inclusive stakeholder involvement.

These insights underscore the necessity for the Welsh Government to implement a clear, inclusive, and actionable Just Transition Framework that leverages existing partnerships and empowers communities, ensuring a fair and equitable transition to a greener future for all of Wales.

You can find the executive summary and full report here.