Dr. Gyan Pathak
International Labour Organization (ILO) is getting itself ready with its agenda at UN Climate Change Conference COP29 with its key message that just transition policies must prioritize labour rights and decent work and to highlight the critical role of social dialogue and labour protection so that no one is left behind.
COP29 will be taking place in Baku, Azerbaijan, from 11-22 November 2024, which amid global conflicts and economic challenges, will focus on advancing inclusive climate solutions that ensure a just transition for all.
As a UN observer at COP29, the ILO will be providing technical expertise and facilitate knowledge exchange. Through events such as the Just Transition Pavilion, the ILO will offer guidance on integrating these principles into climate commitments, reinforcing that inclusive policies and sustainable job creation are central to a fair and resilient future.
The ILO in partnership with the European Union, is establishing a Just Transition Pavilion at COP29. The Pavilion is a venue for delegates to carry formal and informal consultations, to convene thematic events, and to network. In addition, Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) Clinics are available to interested constituents to learn more about how just transition principles can be further and successfully integrated into the next edition of their NDC.
At the Just Transition Pavilion, the ILO highlights that enforcing labour rights in the climate change context is essential for just transition policies. A gender-responsive approach drives adaptation and mitigation, while universal social protection is key to climate resilience. Sustainable enterprises and skills development create better jobs, and financing a just transition invests in people and the planet. Effective social dialogue leads to ambitious, inclusive, and actionable Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
It says that the world of work has been severely impacted by climate change, with intensified heat waves, forest fires, floods, desertification, and drought causing widespread devastation. These impacts have hit workers, enterprises, and communities hard. The threats posed by climate change are especially severe for those already facing socio-economic vulnerabilities, including women, persons with disabilities, youth, indigenous and tribal peoples, and migrant and refugee workers, among others.
For developing countries in particular, climate impacts threaten efforts in realising the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. As countries undertake efforts to address the climate crisis, such measures can have both positive and negative implications for jobs, livelihoods, poverty, inclusion and equality.
A just transition is hence crucial to harness the benefits of a resilient low carbon economy, create decent work, and ensure no one is left behind.
This conference is set against a global backdrop of interlinked crises marked by conflicts, socio-economic fragility, and the need to build social consensus for climate action that leaves no one behind. The need for ambition and action is more critical than ever to preserve the 1.5-degree target and move the world towards a climate-resilient pathway while ensuring a just transition for all.
Throughout the conference, the UN’s labour agency will ensure that workforce perspectives are integral into climate discussions. This includes advocating for social protections and adopting policies that empower marginalized groups, including women, and indigenous communities.
“In a world striving for a sustainable future, the foundation of effective just transition policies lies in upholding labour rights, fostering social dialogue, and ensuring decent work for all. These policies must be gender-responsive, recognizing that empowering women is essential for ambitious climate actions and achieving social justice,” one of the ILO’s key messages at COP29 read.
“To build climate resilience, universal social protection and robust occupational safety and health measures are indispensable. Sustainable businesses, along with targeted skills development and comprehensive industrial and employment policies, are the cornerstones for creating more and better jobs,” it says, adding “Investing in a just transition is not just a moral imperative but a prudent financial decision, benefiting both people and the planet. By embracing these principles, we can pave the way for a more equitable and resilient future.”
A policy dialogue will be held between 20-21 November 2024 at the Just Transition Pavilion during the COP29. This ILO led event will be held in joint collaboration and support from the UN-PAGE programme (ILO, UNEP, UNDP, UNIDO and UNITAR). It aims to foster South-South cooperation through policy discussions among Central Asian, South Caucasian, and Asia Pacific countries (PAGE and non-PAGE countries) on promoting green jobs, sustainable enterprises, and circular approaches for a just transition. It seeks to include workers’ and employers’ voices in NDC formulation, explore just energy transition scenarios, and recommend sustainable financing policies. The dialogue also aims to share experiences and address capacity gaps. Additionally, it promotes peer learning on integrating just transition and sustainable enterprises considerations into NDCs.
ILO’s climate action for jobs initiative emphasises that Climate and employment goals can and must go hand in hand. The Paris Agreement on climate change, adopted in 2015, highlights the imperatives of a just transition and the creation of decent work as essential dimensions of climate change. While some important progress has been made, the required scale of efforts needed to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 is not yet enough. The Climate Action for Jobs Initiative will contribute to a Decade of Action, accelerating climate action through a just transition. (IPA)
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