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School of Law and Government
Diarmuid Torney from DCU's School of Law and Government is appointed by An Taoiseach to the National Economic and Social Council (NESC)

Dr Diarmuid Torney appointed to new Just Transition Commission

Diarmuid Torney from DCU's School of Law and Government is appointed by An Taoiseach to the National Economic and Social Council (NESC)
Members of Commission approved for initial three year term

Dr Diarmuid Torney from Dublin City University’s School of Law and Government has been appointed to the new Just Transition Commission. Dr Torney is the Centre Director of DCU’s Centre for Climate and Society.

The new commission will have a key role in advising and supporting the government to ensure that the move to a climate neutral economy is fair and benefits everyone.

Membership of the Just Transition Commission comprises nominees from the five pillars of social dialogue, together with independent experts with backgrounds in a range of areas relevant to the work of the commission, including human rights and equality, skills development, rural and community development, social inclusion, the green economic transition, and youth perspectives.

Speaking about his appointment, Dr Torney said

“I'm honoured to have been appointed a member of the Commission.

I'm looking forward to working with chair Ali Sheridan and the rest of the Commission to advise the government on how to make Ireland's climate transition fair  and inclusive.

Ensuring that just transition is central to Ireland's climate transition could not be more important, as the state works to meet binding national and EU climate targets over the rest of this decade and beyond.

I will be drawing on ongoing research with many colleagues, including within the Co-Centre for Climate + Biodiversity + Water, the Horizon Europe project RETOOL focusing on strengthening democratic governance for climate transition, and the Jean Monnet network GreenDeal-NET.”

Commenting on the announcement, Eamon Ryan TD, Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications said:

"Ensuring that we have a fair move to a new greener Ireland has been a priority for me and I am very pleased to be able to confirm the appointments to Ireland’s first Just Transition Commission in what is an important milestone for Ireland’s climate policy. The Commission will have an important role in advising and supporting us so that our climate policies work for everyone and benefit all communities.

It will work to anticipate and inform long-term climate policy by focusing on the potential impacts, risks and opportunities arising from the climate transition for different sectors of the economy and society, in particular those at most risk of being left behind. Importantly, the Commission will support government to work from the bottom up, ensuring that we are innovative, flexible and above all people centred in the way we approach this move to new green jobs, green agriculture and green transport.”

The members of the Just Transition Commission are:

  • Ali Sheridan (Chair)
  • Vanessa Kiely O’Connor
  • Michelle Murphy
  • Conor Minogue
  • Oisín Coghlan
  • Ryan McKinney
  • Diarmuid Torney
  • Evan Boyle
  • Seamus Boland
  • Suresh Kumar
  • Tanya Ward

More information on the Just Transition Commission is available here.