For small island economies, the physical impact of climate change, such as rising sea levels and the impact of more frequent natural disasters, is particularly devastating for the Pacific Island Atoll States. Migration is at times considered as a strategy for survival for the people of atoll states as is the regions reliance on remittances.
Climate change poses an enormous dilemma for the atoll state governments to retain the balance of development at home and decent job opportunities for the ones migrating to other countries. It is an opportunity for countries to plan strategies on how to adapt and respond to labour market changes including in extremis due to climate change-induced migration.
With the underpinning of UN 2030 development agenda on “leave no one behind”, the future of atoll states has been accepted as the common concern by the global community. The ILO Just Transition Guidelines offer a policy framework and practical tool to promote a just transition to low-carbon, climate-resilient and inclusive economies.
Increasing numbers of natural disasters like cyclones nullify the development efforts made by the countries and results in dysfunctional social and economic systems lasting several years. In the aftermath of such disasters, the disruption of economic activities ends up with the long term loss of employment opportunities. Assistance fatigue of donor countries and international organizations with more frequent disasters indicates the needs for more sustainable solutions to the problem.
The question that should be asked is what policy responses need to be developed to cope with the negative impacts of climate change, including more frequent natural disasters, and to retain decent work opportunities for the workers in affected Pacific island countries. It is evident that we should not only respond to the negative impact after it has happened, but also to prepare, prevent and minimize it. But at the same time as the threats posed, and the seriousness of these cannot be underestimated, opportunities also exist for the climate change economy.
Work to prevent the worst effects of natural disasters can mean more jobs, e.g. installing sustainable energy and water supplies. The session will discuss these both the threats but also the opportunities and how best to participate and to prepare for green growth and the just transition in the Pacific.
