We argue that just transitions require more than technical fixes – they demand rethinking how we see, measure, and govern sustainability. This brief outlines actionable steps for ethical, inclusive, and effective data generation and use in transition policymaking.

🚩 Key Policy Recommendations:
1 Establish EU-wide ethical guidelines for the use of novel data in transition monitoring, ensuring privacy, fairness, and cross-border comparability.
2 Fund and promote open, transparent datasets and mandate methodological transparency in all EU-funded sustainability programs.
3 Enable GDPR-compliant access to platform data for public interest research, while safeguarding vulnerable communities.
4 Recognize citizen-generated data as legitimate and embed public participation in environmental governance processes.
5 Boost public sector data literacy and create inclusive, participatory processes for data governance at all levels.