UN Climate Change News, April 12, 2023 – The transition to a low-carbon economy can unlock new jobs and opportunities, but it must be done in a way that is as socially and economically fair as possible for all, according to the field case studies included in New message from the UN climate change document. „To ensure that no one is left behind, countries need just transition and economic diversification policies that are comprehensive, inclusive and based on social dialogue and stakeholder engagement,“ said James Grabert, UN Director for Climate Change Mitigation. „These policies need to be integrated into national climate action plans as well as national adaptation plans to avoid widening inequalities.“ The concept of a „just transition“ recognizes that the transition to a more sustainable economy can have a significant impact on workers and communities currently dependent on fossil fuels. A just transition means transforming the economy and economic system in a way that is as fair and inclusive as possible for all stakeholders, creates decent jobs and leaves no one behind.
The report prepared by Committee of experts from Katowice on the impacts of implementing the response, brings together some of the best practices from different countries that are already implementing just transition and economic diversification strategies. Examples range from social protection for factory workers in Bangladesh, where fast fashion is shifting to more sustainable business models, to just transition agreements in Spain, where coal-fired power plants are being replaced by wind and photovoltaic plants. The report finds that including training and skills development initiatives in national climate action plans and electricity plans can create equitable and long-term energy policies. The report highlights the Island Eco initiative in the Marshall Islands, which provides women with technical training to assemble, install, operate and maintain solar installations, helping the country achieve its 100% renewable energy target by 2050. The initiative also contributes to creating decent working conditions in the country. In Denmark, a former shipyard has been transformed into an industrial park housing 100 different companies in the renewable energy sector. More than 3,000 workers lost their jobs when the shipyard closed in 2012. Immediately after the decision to close the shipyard in 2009, a public-private partnership, the Lindø Offshore Renewables Center, was established to transform the site into an industrial park for the wind and renewable energy industry. Today, more than 500,100 people are employed in the 2 companies operating at the Lindø site, and a further 3,000 people are employed in the local industry and hospitality sector that supports the site. The report highlights that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to just transition. Just transition strategies need to be tailored to each individual country. For example, in Nigeria, just transition needs to be seen through the lens of climate change adaptation. Around 70 percent of Nigerians work in agriculture or fisheries. However, the country is facing a sharp decline in agricultural productivity due to extreme weather events and more frequent and severe droughts. It is widely acknowledged that new jobs and production methods are needed. In 2018, the Nigerian Labour Congress launched a joint project with Friends of the Earth Nigeria on just transition in two sectors – agriculture and petroleum. The project has two objectives: to build a shared understanding and policy agenda among Nigerian trade unions, civil society and communities on what a just transition would look like for these two sectors in Nigeria; and to develop models and best practices for other sectors.