Expanding avenues to promote decent work: New ILO report shows growing integration of just transition in environmental plans
Decent work and just transition objectives gain prominence in the design of nationally determined contributions (NDCs) on climate change.
6 February 2026
GENEVA (ILO News) – A new ILO report “Mapping just transition in NDC 3.0: Global trends across 123 countries” finds a marked rise in references to just transition, employment and decent work in the latest NDC submissions. While progress is evident, the report also points to the importance of turning attention to implementation, through labour-related policies on employment creation, skills development and social protection, based on social dialogue.
Key findings
Just transition references have surged, appearing in 79 per cent of NDC 3.0 submissions, up from 50 per cent in previous rounds.
Employment and job-quality concerns now feature in most NDCs. Around 90 per cent include job-related objectives, while references to decent work have doubled to 33 per cent.
Skills development, social protection and enterprise support are now mentioned in the majority of NDCs. References to social dialogue have also doubled, reaching now 43 per cent.
Follow-up mechanisms and institutional arrangements for just transition implementation are increasingly included to guide delivery.
These findings were highlighted during a dialogue convened by the International Labour Organization (ILO) in January 2026, in partnership with the Geneva Environment Network (GEN) and with support from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The event brought together participants from Barbados, Costa Rica, Türkiye, Bangladesh, the Philippines and Nigeria, creating a diverse platform for exchange across regions and development contexts
“The integration of social justice through decent work objectives in the NDCs globally provides a clear illustration of the centrality of the social dimensions in the ecological transition”, said Moustapha Gueye, Director of the ILO Action Programme on Just Transition.
The event convened governments, employers’ and workers’ organizations, alongside international partners, who underscored the role of social dialogue in ensuring that climate policies deliver for workers, enterprises and communities. Participants also shared perspectives on integrating decent work aspects in the NDCs and explored ways to advance just transition efforts in their respective country contexts.
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