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Activists demand ‘just transition’ to take center stage at COP30

“Labour Activists Push for UN Plan to Ensure Fair Transition Away from Fossil Fuels”

Developing states and labor activists are calling for a firm UN plan for international support to ensure a fair global shift away from fossil fuels. The transition to cleaner energy sources will have significant impacts on employment, with job losses in some sectors and creation in others, as well as opportunities and risks in clean technology supply chains.

At the 2022 COP27 climate summit in Egypt, governments launched a “Just Transition Work Programme” (JTWP) to address these challenges. However, the program has made little progress, with discussions on its implementation stalled at COP29 in Azerbaijan.

Trade unionists and campaigners have expressed disappointment with the lack of attention given to just transition at COP29. Bert De Wel, global climate policy coordinator at the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), criticized the summit as a “wasted COP” for not prioritizing the interests of workers in the transition away from fossil fuels.

Kenya’s Fatuma Hussein, the African Group’s lead negotiator on just transition, highlighted the need for developed countries to address finance, international cooperation, and adaptation in the context of a fair transition. She emphasized that developing nations should not be left to navigate the transition alone.

The International Labour Organization (ILO) estimates that transitioning to renewable energy could lead to 6 million job losses but create 24 million new jobs by 2030. The ILO’s guidelines for a just transition emphasize the importance of economic, environmental, and social policies, as well as education and training to support workers and companies through the transition.

Climate campaigners and labor rights activists had hoped for concrete steps to support just transition at COP29, including financial assistance, consultation with workers’ representatives, and social protection systems for affected workers.

Looking ahead to COP30 in Brazil, advocates are calling for a renewed focus on just transition to ensure that no one is left behind in the shift to clean energy. They emphasize the need for strong governance, transparency, and accountability in transition initiatives to prevent corruption and ensure accountability to affected communities.

Overall, the push for a fair global shift away from fossil fuels requires a coordinated international effort to support workers and communities through the transition. The upcoming COP30 in Brazil will be a crucial opportunity to advance the conversation on just transition and ensure a sustainable and equitable future for all.

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