Sector-specific climate policies for a green industrial transition with public support
Wood Hansen, Oskar Louis (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals)
Koslowski, Maximilian (Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU))

Date:	2026
Abstract:	Paris pledges have yet to translate into effective climate policy as global warming approaches 1. 5°C. A major political obstacle to the green transition is the 'job-killing' argument, which persists due to public concerns about job losses and the inevitable decline of some sectors. To examine how this challenge varies across sectors, this paper analyses the emission intensity of employment (CO2eq/job), complementing the traditional indicator-emissions per value added. Using final goods-based accounting, we estimate the domestic emissions and employment in each sector as well as in their supply chains. This reveals the need for policies that balance emission reductions with job losses not just in targeted sectors but throughout the economy. Results show sectors vary widely in job generation and emission intensity of jobs, implying distinct policy challenges. In response, we propose a sector-specific policy framework with four strategies: Protect & proceed; Keep & decarbonize; Decarbonize or decline; and Let live. These strategies combine three kinds of climate policy to match sector characteristics: carbon pricing, green industrial policy, and just transition measures. By addressing decarbonization and employment in a balanced way, these strategies can improve public acceptability and enhance the political feasibility of climate action.
Grants:	Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades CEX2024-001506-M "la Caixa" Foundation 11860022
Note:	Unidad de excelencia María de Maeztu CEX2019-000940-M
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, la comunicació pública de l'obra i la creació d'obres derivades, fins i tot amb finalitats comercials, sempre i quan es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Subject:	Hypothetical extraction ; Input-output ; Linkage analysis ; Political feasibility ; Public support ; Transition challenges
Published in:	Climate Policy, April 2026, ISSN 1752-7457

DOI: 10.1080/14693062.2026.2651852

19 p, 1.7 MB

The record appears in these collections:
Research literature > UAB research groups literature > Research Centres and Groups (research output) > Experimental sciences > Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals (ICTA)
Articles > Research articles
Articles > Published articles