Prepared by the Human Development Foundation (İNGEV) in cooperation with CAN Europe, the Just Transition Guide from a Regional Development and Planning Perspective in Türkiye’s Coal Regions has been published.
The guide underlines that, in line with Türkiye’s 2053 net zero target, the phase-out of coal should not be treated merely as an energy policy issue, but designed as a planned transformation process that simultaneously addresses employment, social policy, regional development, and governance.
Based on a comprehensive national and international literature review, the study was further enriched through the Just Transition and Green Transformation Process workshop held in Ankara on 25 November 2025, with contributions from public institutions, civil society organizations, trade unions, and local actors from coal regions. The guide emphasizes that national averages often obscure local realities, noting that in some districts coal employment has an exceptionally high impact on local economies, and therefore calls for placing the regional scale at the center of analysis and policy design.
Drawing on the cases of Ermenek and Zonguldak, the study warns that unplanned transitions can deepen social and economic vulnerabilities. It highlights that processes carried out without social support mechanisms can increase the risks of migration, loss of identity, and long-term poverty. Among its key institutional recommendations are the establishment of a central Just Transition Commission and a transparent National Just Transition Fund financed by revenues from the Emissions Trading System.
At the regional level, the guide assigns a critical role to development agencies. It recommends developing solutions tailored to the specific socio-economic structures of each coal region, establishing local transition platforms and employment centers, expanding reskilling and upskilling programs, and scaling up services that support women’s and youth employment. The guide concludes by stressing that a planned transition that “leaves no one behind” is vital both for coal regions and for Türkiye’s climate goals.
To read the guide: https://ingev.org/reports/Just-Transition-Guide.pdf