A Just Transition for Climate Ambition

9 September 2018

In the run up to COP24 in the construction workers, farmers, is a guarantee for better policies Katowice there is a lot of talk about Just Transition. But what is it? Why is it good for the climate? Can you pronounce it without twisting your tongue?

Just Transition is about providing better and decent jobs, social protection, more training opportunities and greater job security for workers who are affected by climate change or the policies aimed at addressing it, their families and their communities. It’s about bus drivers, and others who have to work in soaring heat regardless of whether they live in Africa, Asia, the Americas or Europe. It’s about the women and men losing their jobs in fossil fuel industries, and it’s about providing decent and quality jobs in the renewable energy industry.

Just Transition happens when there is social dialogue between workers and their unions, employers, governments and other stakeholders. Social justice and broad civil support. Both are urgently needed to step up climate ambition. Recognising the importance of a Just Transition would send a very strong signal out of Katowice that Parties are ready to embrace this challenge. After all, it is actually easier to integrate the concept of a Just Transition in the guidelines €“ just as you did in the Paris Agreement €“ than to pronounce it in Polish: “consprawiedliwa transformacja”…