Back to basics: What is a “just transition”?
BNP Paribas aligns its view of a just transition with the definitions set by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the Business for Inclusive Growth (B4IG) in 2021.
- According to the ILO definition: “A Just Transition promotes environmentally sustainable economies in a way that is inclusive, by creating decent work opportunities, reducing inequality and by leaving no one behind.”
- As defined by the B4IG coalition: “Climate change and in turn climate change strategies and policies have the potential to cause major social repercussions. We can address it if we collectively take the necessary actions to support the Just Transition, putting people at the heart of climate action […]. Governments, business, and other stakeholders must collectively ensure that no one is left behind in the process.”
To summarise: To accompany our clients towards a transition that is ‘just’, it is critical to take into account everyone’s needs!
BNP Paribas' Just Transition Observatory
"Leaving No One Behind in the Ecological Transition"
BNP Paribas is dedicated to accompanying our clients and working together towards a just transition. The Group's Network of Experts in Sustainability Transitions (NEST) is an internal ESG community and research center designed to anticipate sustainability trends affecting the Group with a foresight lens. Since 2023, the NEST’s “Just Transition Observatory” publication—led with partners such as Ipsos, Terra Nova, CSR Europe and Bocconi University—includes specialists' insights on the most recent developments and trends related to the environmental and social transition.
Check out the Group's publications dedicated to the just transition
2026 UNEP FI Case Study: "BNP Paribas: Towards Integration of Just Transition Considerations"
Most recently, BNP Paribas participated in a yearlong initiative as part of the United Nations Environmental Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) Just Transition Pilot Programme, which convened over a dozen insurers and banks for peer exchange and expert input to document how just transition considerations are being integrated across the banking and insurance sectors. This initiative culminated in the UNEF FI publishing a report in April 2026 titled “Just transition finance: Case studies from banking and insurance” featuring a case study from BNP Paribas. More specifically, the UNEP FI case study “BNP Paribas: Towards Integration of Just Transition Considerations” explores how the Group is embedding jus transition into its strategies, processes, products and partnerships.
Follow the Group's specialists on LinkedIn
- Grégoire Lusson, Head of NEST at BNP Paribas
- Christophe Michaëli, Head of the Mobility Business Unit at BNP Paribas Personal Finance
- Dagmar van der Plas, Head of Communication and Engagement at BNP Paribas Netherlands
