Just Transition Commission

 

Overview of the JTC

Bringing together independent expertise and sector insight through engagement and representation, the Commission will play a crucial role in supporting Northern Ireland departments to deliver climate action that is effective and just. 

DAERA, as the sponsor department, will support the independent Commission in effectively executing its functions. The Commission will be directly supported by a Secretariat. 

Legislative Basis

Section 37 of the Climate Change Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 placed a duty on DAERA to establish a Just Transition Commission for Northern Ireland. 

Section 30(3) of the Act sets out the objectives of the just transition principle, which aims to promote fairness during the transition from a high-emissions to a low-emissions economy. High-level objectives include the importance of taking action to reduce emissions in a manner which helps to support environmentally and socially sustainable jobs, support low carbon investment, address social and economic inequalities during the transition, and develop and maintain consensus through engagement.

 The Climate Change (Just Transition Commission) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026 set out the primary functions of the JTC. Under the regulations, the Commission must as soon as practicable after the end of each financial year, prepare and lay before the Assembly a report on the performance of the Commission’s functions. The Commission must also lay before the Assembly a copy of any report prepared and published by it.

Primary Functions

The purpose of the Commission is to support Government in delivering its net zero commitment on emissions in a way that is fair and just through:

1. overseeing the implementation of the just transition elements of the Act; and
2. providing advice to departments on how to ensure that proposals, policies, strategies, and plans required under the Act comply with the just transition principle.

The primary oversight function of the Commission will include reviewing and reporting on the implementation of the just transition elements of the Act as specified within the Regulations, including climate action plans, sectoral plans, and the Just Transition Fund for Agriculture schemes (established under section 31 of the Act).

Representative Sectors

DAERA may appoint a chairperson and up to 19 other members of the JTC. The membership of the Commission must include representation from 12 sectors: agriculture, environmental groups, fisheries, academia, trade unions, youth groups, civil society, transport, energy, green finance, the built environment and rural sector. The Commission must include two representatives of environmental groups, and three representatives of the agricultural sector.

The Commission may establish ad-hoc committees and/or invite external persons to its meetings should additional specific knowledge or expertise be required to assist the Commission delivering their functions. 

Chair and Member Appointments

A public appointment process to appoint a chair and 15 members to the Just Transition Commission will be launched in the coming weeks. 

The inaugural appointments to the commission will be made via a public appointment process which will be progressed in accordance with the principles of the Commissioner for Public Appointments Code of Practice. 

DAERA is committed to the principle of public appointments based on merit with independent assessment, openness and transparency of process. DAERA is committed to equality of opportunity and welcomes applications regardless of gender, age, marital status, disability, religion, ethnic origin, political opinion, sexual orientation or whether or not you have dependents.  Since women, young people, people from minority ethnic groups and people with disabilities are currently under-represented on boards of DAERA public bodies, applications from these groups would be particularly welcome.

For further information about current opportunities across the NICS, the public appointment application process and public appointments in general and current opportunities across the NICS, please follow: Public appointment vacancies | nidirect

Other useful links

• The Climate Change (Just Transition Commission) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026
• Consultation and Summary of Responses on the establishment of a Just Transition Commission | Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs
• Section 30(3) Climate Change Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 - Just Transition Principle
• Section 37 of the Climate Change Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 - Just Transition Commission

Contact Details

If you have any queries on the Just Transition Commission, please direct them to the team at the following helpdesk:

Email - jtcsecretariat@daera-ni.gov.uk