This report examines the coal industry in New Zealand, including the various challenges the industry is facing in the country and globally. The authors suggest ways in which coal communities can reinvent themselves and identify areas in which they will need help in planning a transition to a low-carbon economy.

The report discusses the potential losses and regional impacts of a transition away from coal and examines the possibility of sustainable job creation in a low-carbon economy. It draws on experiences from various transitions around the world to inform how the transition to a green economy could be achieved in New Zealand. The authors offer a general policy roadmap to achieve a transition, emphasizing the importance of early assessments of the impacts of phase-out scenarios and social dialogue with workers and their unions. They call for a long-term planning process that involves all stakeholders to take place prior to the transition.