Good Futures Framework
Putting fairness at the heart of climate action
The climate and nature crises demand nothing short of transformational change in Yorkshire and the Humber. We aim to work with stakeholders across the region and beyond to ensure that this transition is a fair one.
Done right, climate action can bring a wealth of positive benefits to our communities, creating a healthier, happier and thriving region. But climate action that ignores social equity risks deepening existing inequalities, and isolating communities already vulnerable to economic, environmental and health shocks.
We need to build resilience and fairness into climate policy from the start, putting the most vulnerable people first as we develop and implement our plans. This requires a truly inclusive approach to decision-making, one that fully considers the immediate and enduring impacts of decisions on all communities.
Policymakers in Yorkshire and the Humber are already demonstrating how this can be done – as a region we have the ambition, innovation and opportunity to build on these successes.
The Good Futures Framework
The Good Futures Framework is a practical tool designed to help policymakers make decisions that lead to fairer community outcomes.
The Framework, which we co-developed with the JUST Centre and people from across the region, has been designed to support more effective climate action and better futures for workers and communities.
An organisation can use the Framework to assess a current or upcoming project, policy or plan and understand where and how they can maximise benefits, minimise negative or unintended impacts, and integrate stronger protections for vulnerable workers and communities.
Download the Good Futures Framework
The Framework is available for download and use for free. We welcome your feedback – please contact yhclimate@leeds.ac.uk.
Additional supporting tools will be available in early November 2026.
Training and support
The Yorkshire & Humber Climate Commission will be providing a series of training sessions covering just transition principles and the use of the Framework during 2027.
Priority is given to those who work within Yorkshire and the Humber, but where spaces are available we will offer training to those outside the region.
You can sign up as an individual to join the waitlist for training, or enquire about training for a whole team.
The Good Futures Framework is an assessment tool for anyone developing a policy or plan. It has been designed to help maximise benefits, minimise negative or unintended impacts, and integrate stronger protections for vulnerable workers and communities.
The Framework details three approaches, which can be used flexibly depending on available time and capacity: fast use is for a quick impact review of the proposed policy or plan; full use is a more detailed full assessment process that helps you build a documented improvement plan; while flexible use enables you to draw on elements of the Framework to support you in your plan or project development.
The next iteration of the Framework will also include advice on utilising the JUST Centre’s Readiness Tool, for detailed place-based data on potential vulnerabilities and strengths to support decision-making.
The Good Futures Framework has been designed for use by local and regional policymakers, who can use this tool to help refine plans to support positive change.
While that is its main purpose, it may also be useful to leaders of businesses and organisations, who can use this tool to guide strategies and strengthen social and environmental impact.
It can also be of use to individuals, who can use this tool to identify potential risks associated with local project planning or consultations, and advocate for fairer, more sustainable outcomes.
The Good Futures Framework was developed with direct input from more than 150 policymakers, business leaders, workers, community members, researchers and non-profit organisations from across Yorkshire and the Humber. It also draws on research undertaken by academics at the University of Leeds and University of York.
The Framework design was initially shaped by insights from communities and policymakers gathered during a series of workshops in early 2025. Through an additional five workshops and more than 30 expert consultations, the tool was further developed and validated to ensure that it reflected the priorities and needs of people in the region. It was tested with policymakers during 2026 and further refined before launch.
A second version of the tool, expected in mid 2027, will incorporate Just Transitions Indicators and guidance on the Readiness Tool from the Joined-Up Sustainability Transformations (JUST) Centre.
Get involved
We are always interested in hearing from people or organisations who would like to engage with our work. If you’d like to become involved with this project, please contact us.
