The pushback that is faced by Just Transitions can be grouped into 3 categories: skill redundancy, loss of identity and economic security
Skill Redundancy
Energy workers are at a higher risk of securing new employment as a result of Just Transitions for a number of reasons. These can include: lack of education and transferrable skills, reluctance to receive training in new fields, and a pay cut that may be associated with taking on a new job.
Poland
In the Silesia region of Poland, which heavily relies on coal for energy, efforts have been made to try and alleviate some of this push back from workers in the industry. Individuals aged 15–44 who left the mining industry had only a 30% chance of finding work in different industries. Only 16% of miners held a university education, and many coal workers lacked the professionalism and “soft skills” required for work in other fields. Miners aged 40–49 are particularly susceptible to layoffs and redundancy, as they are “less willing to invest in acquiring new skills than younger workers in the 15–39 age group”. As a result, older coal workers with low levels of education may have more trouble accepting transitions because they require them to gain training in a new field and essentially start their careers from square one. Additionally, it is expected that the pay in new industries is around 50% less than what they make now as they are paid considerably well in the minding industry.
Loss of Identity
Many communities are closely tied to their identity as mining regions due to the number of people that work in the industry in the community. For many that live in these communities, there is a family history of working in the industry. Additionally, coal-workers in many regions are viewed highly by their communities due to their bravery for risking their health and lives to support their families and contribute to the local economy, resulting in some having pride comparable to going to war. In communities where hardships have been felt due to the coal industry, the resiliency has added to the pride of workers in the industry.
Economic Insecurity
When there is a dominant industry in a particular area that starts to decline, the communities start to face economic insecurity. The effects of this are already starting to hit coal-producing regions as more renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind, are used that has lowered the demand for coal. Residents of extractive communities tend to rely on coal for employment and tax revenue. These communities that rely on a sole industry may struggle to diversify their economies and create new jobs. It is also widely believed that forms of renewable energy are expensive and unaffordable, so many fear that the transition to these energy sources will result in higher monthly household energy bills. As such, it could result in higher levels of energy insecurity worries for individuals. Areas that experience mine closures often face a rise in unemployment, which can result in a decline to the population as people seek jobs in other regions. For an example, in coal-producing regions in Spain, populations have decreased by 20-25% since 1990. Improper implementation of transition plans can lead to a loss in trust in the government and their policies.