Ensuring a Just Transition
Complying with the goals of the Paris Agreement to keep global temperature rise below 1.5 degrees Celsius will require a major transformation in society, including in the world of work and employment. The Paris Agreement reinforces the need to have a just transition for workers, so that there is a strategy in place to protect those whose jobs, incomes, and livelihoods are at risk due to climate policies. At the same time, the ILO similarly has recognized the forthcoming problems, and adopted guidelines for a just transition. To ensure a fairer, prosperous society for everyone, parties must embrace a just transition and consider workers in implementing the Paris Agreement.
Key International Instruments:
International Labour Organization, Guidelines for a Just Transition towards environmentally sustainable economies and societies for all (2015): The ILO Guidelines on Just Transition have been agreed by Governments, Employers and Trade Unions to guide policies in order to accompany the world of work in the transition to an environmentally sound society. They build on previous trade union recommendations.
Declaration of Philadelphia: The Philadelphia Declaration, adopted by the ILO in 1944, is the paramount guidance for employment & social commitments. In it, the ILO highlighted the centrality of human rights to social policy and linked it to employment and economic security.
Rio+20 Outcome Document: The Future We Want: In 2012, governments recommitted to the principles in the Rio Declaration and laid out a vision for achieving sustainable development in the outcome document of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20). This includes the need to promote decent work for all and having a just transition for “workers to adjust to changing labour market conditions.”
Relevant Readings:
ITUC Climate Frontlines: This document introduces the rationale for deploying just transition strategies at different levels.