Just Transition

The Just Transition Taskforce aims to bring forward real action towards ensuring that the shift to more sustainable urban mobility leaves no one behind.

From digitisation to active travel, logistics to electromobility and beyond, the Just Transition Taskforce raises discussions on how to place affordability, inclusivity, and accessibility at the heart of all urban mobility policies.

It is no secret that urban mobility has to undergo a radical transformation if it is to become cleaner and more resilient. However, such a transition cannot come to fruition unless each mobility offering caters towards the needs of all, and not just those who are socially, politically, and economically privileged.

At the 2021 Annual POLIS Conference in Gothenburg, POLIS launched the Just Transition Agenda, where we established key actions needed to ensure a fair, equitable, inclusive, and sustainable urban mobility transition. We have seen some inspiring progress since then; however, there is still much more to be done. This is why we have established the Just Transition Taskforce to help us integrate the Just Transition across all of POLIS’ activities, putting citizens first and ensuring that the mobility transition we strive towards is one that has everyone on board.

The Taskforce’s activities include a Just Transition Webinar series which, across several online events, will traverse the multifaceted ways affordability, gender-related mobility patterns, age, cognitive capacities (and more), can guide the future of our cities and regions.

Discover POLIS network's Just Transition Webinar series

Topic priorities for 2025

The topics being discussed by this Taskforce are:

Intersection of digital and physical accessibility: the need to leverage technology to enhance physical accessibility, ensuring that advancements in mobility benefit all individuals, including those with disabilities;
Intersection of Just Transition with climate policies: ensure equity in the shift to a low-carbon economy by supporting affected workers, protecting vulnerable communities, and aligning social justice with environmental goals, including inclusive policy design, mitigation of economic disruptions, and equitable financing to ensure no one is left behind in climate action;
Mobility as a Right: recognising mobility as a fundamental right and ensuring equitable access to transportation systems for all individuals, regardless of socioeconomic status, ability, or location; link with UPPER project;
Inclusivity of emerging technologies: ensuring that emerging technologies, such as CCAM, AI, and data spaces, are inclusive and equitable; addressing barriers for marginalised communities by designing technology that is accessible, affordable, and user-friendly while prioritising underserved areas;
Intersection of active modes with diversity and inclusivity: addressing barriers for marginalised groups by promoting accessible infrastructure, gender sensitivity, and affordability, prioritising underserved areas, amplifying diverse representation in planning, and ensuring active transport is equitable and accessible for all.