The Reflections series synthesizes lessons from past evaluations to support organizational learning about what works and what doesn't. This paper synthesizes evidence from 47 UNDP evaluations and 39 other reports and research and strategic papers to extract seven lessons on green and just transition, showing both achievements and persistent gaps.

1. Underlying values: Transitions were more just and sustainable when actors had structured ways to surface, debate and respect their underlying values.
2. Repairing the past: Acknowledging past harm and creating space for recognition, trust-building and dialogue encouraged communities to embrace change and prevented transitions from reproducing old injustices.
3. Political economy: Where UNDP applied political economy analysis, it sharpened context-sensitivity, uncovered barriers to reform, informed more inclusive transition strategies and contributed to more sustainable outcomes.
4. Volatile contexts: In times of volatility, fairness required actively amplifying agency, voice, time and material opportunities—not just preserving stability.
5. Gendered care work: Interventions that explicitly integrated gendered care work and informality, such as by formalizing care work, reached stronger results.
6. Anticipating skills: Just transition required anticipating skills needs early and involving affected communities in defining them.
7. Addressing debt: Where UNDP effectively addressed debt terms, austerity conditions and external financing modalities, it helped prevent the cost of transition from being shifted to the most vulnerable populations and ecosystems.