ILO hosts South-South Dialogue with Young Climate Negotiators from Arab States on Just Transition and Decent Work

To mark the South-South day on the 12th of September, The International Labour Organization (ILO) facilitated a South-South dialogue, bringing together young climate negotiators from Yemen, Lebanon, and Jordan who are currently undergoing a training programme led by the Climate Youth Negotiator Programme (CYNP) in advance of COP29. The session was an opportunity to discuss the challenges and opportunities of achieving a just transition in the region. The virtual exchange focused on key elements of climate adaptation, mitigation, and decent work within the Arab States region, with a particular emphasis on the experiences and lessons shared by each country. The discussions highlighted the crucial role of youth in shaping climate policy and driving the transition toward sustainable, resilient economies.

After a capacity building session on the key principles of a just transition, the session was an opportunity for the negotiators to share their reflections on how decent work is impacted by climate mitigation and adaptation. For example, participants raised concerns about the impacts of climate change on workers in the agricultural sector, where extreme weather poses risks for outdoor laborers. They also addressed the decent work challenges in e-waste and waste management sectors including informality, child labour, and unsafe and unhealthy environments, calling for improved working conditions and decent work opportunities. Likewise, a common challenge across the region, was the transitioning from informal bus services to public electric bus systems, noting the resistance from informal workers but also recognizing the benefits of formalizing jobs and improving working conditions for bus drivers. Ensuring social dialogue, the involvement of the informal sector, and building social consensus for the transition would be important to not halter the transition in the transportation sector.

Another recurrent topic across the region were issues of rising sea levels and changing weather patterns. For example, in Yemen, seasonal crises such as floods and coastal waves are major threats to sustainable development in the country, and the participants discussed the need of accessing climate technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI). however, they also saw the need for skilling and upskilling to implement the new technologies. Other examples of just transition opportunities included a collaboration between the Ministry of Environment and Ministry of Education in Lebanon to develop climate curriculars, to build the capacity and understanding of climate change issues across the education system.

The ILO emphasized the importance of aligning climate action with social justice and economic development through a just transition. According to ILO reports, the Middle East and North Africa region stands to benefit significantly from decarbonization, with the potential to create nearly 10 million jobs in the coming decades, provided that strong industrial and climate policies are implemented.

The event concluded with a call for continued collaboration and engagement on climate issues, particularly around just transition, to ensure that no workers or countries are left behind in the global shift towards sustainability. The ILO reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Arab States in developing policies that maximize the social and economic benefits of climate action while safeguarding decent work.