In a recent report, the European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change has a clear message: to maintain public support for climate action, the transition has to be just and fair. In one sense, the advice from the board is just another institution drawing the inevitable conclusion from the science. The Sustainable Development Goals, promulgated by the United Nations in 2015 for realisation by 2030, build on the same insight of mutual relatedness: reducing inequality is key to combating poverty as well as climate change.