‘Just Transition’ – Making a New World Possible

9 December 2010

What do negotiators do when something is agreed? They leave it out of the text!
It might seem weird but it just keeps happening in the shared vision discussion.
Calling for a low emission economy which ensures a just transition and the creation of good quality, decent jobs was long ago agreed as part of the text also referring to gender, indigenous peoples’ rights and other important elements of an overarching climate effort.  
Yet this essential reference has mysteriously vanished from the new shared vision text. And this despite support from Argentina to the United States and all other parts of the alphabet as well.
What is going on? The reference to ‘just transition’ is aimed at gaining the support of the world’s workers for these negotiations.
This international process must inspire people, give hope on our capacity to 
improve peoples’ life and and show that another world is possible.  
The negotiations rightly focus on ‘how far’ we have to go on emissions reductions, financing, technology and capacity building.  
‘Just transition’ sets forth the equitable pathway for ‘how’ to get there. The world needs a sustainable climate and economy, and that requires a bridge to a future with good, decent jobs.