– Mapping of Just Transition supporting policies in Southeast Asia
In this recent study commissioned by Tara Climate Foundation, Ecorys mapped relevant energy transition policies in Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Malaysia, and assessed how justice principles are reflected therein.
Introduction
In this study, Ecorys, in collaboration with local experts, systematically mapped and assessed how just transition principles are reflected in energy transition policies across four Southeast Asian countries: Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Malaysia. The research focused on identifying how justice-related concepts—such as equity, inclusion, and environmental rehabilitation—are embedded in national policy frameworks, even when the term “just transition” is not explicitly used. The study covered a wide range of policy instruments, including more strategic plans/goals/guidelines, formal regulatory acts/laws and dedicated financing schemes, and evaluates their ambition and coherence.
Background
While the concept of a just transition is interpreted differently across countries and policy communities, the research team adopted a six-principle (P) framework tailored to the Southeast Asian context for the purpose of this study. These principles served as the analytical lens for evaluating the presence and ambition of justice elements in government policies through the identification of related keywords and indicators:
- P1: Transparent and inclusive transition governance mechanisms – ensuring coordination across sectors and levels of government, with clear institutional mandates and accountability.
- P2: Meaningful and inclusive stakeholder engagement – involving all relevant actors, including civil society, local communities, and vulnerable groups, from planning to implementation.
- P3: Consideration of vulnerable groups – addressing the specific needs of low-income households, women, youth, elderly, informal workers, and Indigenous Peoples.
- P4: Equitable workforce transition – supporting reskilling, upskilling, and social protection for workers affected by the energy transition.
- P5: Economic diversification – promoting sustainable, local economic development and enterprises, and reducing dependence on fossil fuels.
- P6: Environmental rehabilitation and land repurposing – restoring ecosystems and repurposing land used for fossil fuel activities.
Key Findings:
Our research revealed that while Southeast Asian countries have made evident progress in embedding justice-related principles into energy transition policies, significant gaps remain in ambition, coordination, and implementation. The term “just transition” is inconsistently used, but to different extents, principles such as stakeholder engagement, environmental rehabilitation, and workforce transition are increasingly referenced in national frameworks of Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Malaysia.
Simultaneously, references to governance mechanisms, support for vulnerable groups, and economic diversification are often still lacking or partial. What has also been observed is that while some policies increasingly refer to relevant just transition principles, many of these remain aspirational without specific enforcement mechanisms or concrete implementation strategies.
Reality also shows that just transition ambitions in policies do not align with or follow through to observed experiences of implementation on the ground. Challenges such as fragmented governance, limited subnational capacity, and weak and selective stakeholder engagement persist across all four countries. To address this deficiency, energy transition governance remains a critical area for improvement, particularly for ensuring coherence, transparency, and accountability, and creating a dynamic relationship between policy and practice. Across all four countries, a more coordinated, inclusive, and regionally tailored approach is essential to ensure that the energy transition is not only green but also fair, equitable and context-specific.
8 June 2026
3 minute read
