"Building an environmentally sustainable economy will require radical transformations of European economies and societies. These transformations – referred to by the European Union (EU) as ‘the green transition' – will have significant social consequences, and may affect disproportionally the most vulnerable territories and social groups. Since the latter are already paying the highest price in terms of climate change impacts and environmental degradation, green transition policies may further exacerbate existing inequalities, and may thus be considered as socially unfair and therefore unacceptable. The notion of a just transition has the potential to ensure consistency and integration of social and ecological objectives and policies, acknowledging the essential role of the welfare state in achieving a fair green transition. Just transition principles can indeed be considered as a blueprint for making welfare states compatible with ecological imperatives and supportive of green transition policies. ..."

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