EU Member States are in the process of finalising their National Social Climate Plans to access the €86.7 billion Social Climate Fund by 1 January 2026. These plans aim to support vulnerable groups ahead of the introduction of the new Emissions Trading System for transport and heating (ETS2) in 2027.

This briefing provides practical suggestions for reforms and investments, and reviews how different countries are involving stakeholders in the planning process. It also uses a traffic light assessment based on four guiding principles and a list of criteria endorsed by civil society groups to help compare national approaches and encourage more inclusive and effective planning.