Mapping UN Standards for Effective Just Transition Litigation

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Situation

In July 2025, UN Secretary-General António Guterres declared that the ‘energy transition is unstoppable’ but noted that it is not yet ‘fair enough’. A just transition involves maximising social and economic opportunities from climate action while carefully managing challenges to countries, regions, communities, workers and consumers. This transition to a green economy should be transformative, rather than replicating the exploitative and destructive approaches of the past; it should prioritise human and environmental rights and wellbeing over profit.

Civil society organisations pursuing strategic just transition litigation face challenges identifying which legal arguments would be most effective since relevant international legal standards and jurisprudence are set by numerous different bodies across multiple forums. This gap in accessible, organised legal resources limits the capacity of civil society actors to effectively defend land rights, protect communities affected by renewable energy projects, and hold corporations accountable to human rights obligations during the transition to renewable and sustainable energy.

ILP’s Action

ILP’s volunteer lawyers conducted comprehensive legal mapping of international just transition standards and jurisprudence for civil society actors working on the just transition. The research systematically reviewed international standards set by UN Special Rapporteurs, regional human rights bodies and UN human rights treaty bodies relevant to the just transition. The legal analysis also examined how these international standards are implemented and enforced. This information was then compiled into a database that will be used to strengthen civil society movements in defending human rights and promoting public interests and to support organisations advocating for equitable energy transitions.

Impact

This project has enhanced the capacity of civil society actors to promote fair and sustainable renewable energy projects, defend community land rights, and advocate for environmental justice through strategic litigation. By consolidating international standards set by different bodies into accessible tools for advocacy, civil society actors can more easily identify effective arguments to be utilised in just transition litigation. Grounding domestic, regional and international litigation in UN standards and jurisprudence enhances the enforcement of just transition standards and advances sustainable development globally. This work contributes to addressing environmental imbalances by strengthening key legal regimes pertinent to climate justice and enabling more effective enforcement of relevant legal standards, ultimately supporting equitable resource distribution during the global energy transition.