Polibienestar advance fairer and more inclusive climate policies with JUST IN CLIME project

The Polibienestar Research Institute at the University of Valencia is participating in the Horizon Europe project JUST IN CLIME, bringing together 16 organisations from 13 countries to promote climate transitions that reflect the needs of different groups in society.

On 22 and 23 October 2026, Valencia hosted the kick-off meeting of JUST IN CLIME (Just Mitigation and Adaptation Pathways in Climate Transitions), a research project funded by the European Union through the Horizon Europe programme. Coordinated by KVELOCE, the four-year project aims to support the development of climate policies that integrate social justice, equity and public participation.

Climate change affects people and territories in different ways. Policies designed to reduce emissions and adapt to climate impacts can also have unequal consequences, particularly in how costs, benefits and opportunities are distributed. JUST IN CLIME will investigate how these challenges can be addressed to support fairer climate transitions, paying particular attention to vulnerable communities and their involvement in decisions that affect their lives.

Over the next four years, the project will establish nine pilot initiatives in Spain, Italy, Cyprus, Canada, Lebanon, Tunisia, Senegal, Tanzania and Zimbabwe. Through participatory workshops and dialogue, researchers, public authorities, civil society organisations, economic actors and local communities will work together to identify climate injustices and explore possible solutions. Activities will address issues related to agriculture, energy, urban mobility, urban development and coastal resources.

Drawing on these activities, JUST IN CLIME will develop tools, indicators and recommendations to help public authorities integrate justice and equity into climate policies. The project will combine scientific research with the knowledge and experiences of participating communities, encouraging exchange and mutual learning between territories with very different social, economic and environmental circumstances.

The kick-off meeting, held at the ADEIT University-Business Foundation, provided an opportunity for consortium partners to present the project’s main areas of work, discuss the planned methodologies and coordinate the first activities scheduled for the coming months.

The University of Valencia, through the Polibienestar Research Institute, plays a prominent role as the project’s scientific leader. During the first day, the team presented the participatory activities it will coordinate across the nine pilot territories, together with the research planned to examine public perceptions of climate justice and how participation may influence people’s views and attitudes. Among these activities is a large international survey designed to explore climate justice perceptions across the nine participating countries.

On the second day, Polibienestar’s contribution focused on two cross-cutting areas: ethical preparation for the research activities and the integration of societal needs and concerns throughout the project. As the partner responsible for JUST IN CLIME’s Societal Readiness work, the University of Valencia will coordinate efforts to ensure that the research takes account of the perspectives of people and communities involved in, or potentially affected by, its activities and outcomes.

Through its participation, Polibienestar reinforces its commitment to international research aimed at improving public policies, contributing social science expertise and promoting public participation in the development of fairer responses to climate change.

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