ILO calls for social justice and decent work at European conference for a just transition
The ILO underlined the urgent need to adopt the right policies and foster multilateral cooperation to address the nexus between climate change, decent work and sustainable development.
4 March 2024
Marcel Crozet / ILO
© Marcel Crozet / ILO
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BRUSSELS (ILO News) - “A just transition is central to delivering sustainable development in its economic, social, and environmental dimensions and to addressing the linkages between them”, said Moustapha Kamal Gueye, Director of the ILO Priority action programme on just transitions, delivering the first keynote speech at the European conference for a just transition.
Organized by the Belgian Presidency of the EU and coordinated by the Belgian Minister of Climate, the Environment, Sustainable Development and the Green Deal, Zakia Khattabi, the conference discussed the outlines of a Just Transition Policy Framework fit for the future. “The triple crisis is not just an environmental issue, it is the social issue of this century,” opened Khattabi.
Speaking to representatives of the EU Member States, the EU institutions and civil society, Gueye discussed how the world of work is a key actor and driver of change towards sustainability. By adopting the right policies and measures, tens of millions of new green jobs can be created, as the ILO estimates that a shift to circular economies could create 78 million jobs. An additional 20 million jobs could be generated worldwide if investments in nature-based solutions were tripled by 2030.
Achieving positive outcomes from addressing the environmental crisis requires a just transition which maximizes the social and economic opportunities of climate and environmental action, including an enabling environment for sustainable enterprises, while minimizing and carefully managing challenges.
Employment losses, decent work deficits, inequality and sectoral and educational misalignments must be addressed. Furthermore, technological change, demographic shifts, migration, persistent informality of the labour market, and gender disparities are additional challenges to a just transition for all.
Gueye further underscored the importance of effective social dialogue, respect for labour rights, and ensuring a just transition across countries and economic sectors, including in the informal economy.
The ILO Guidelines for a just transition towards environmentally sustainable economies and societies for all provide a solid framework to design and implement comprehensive policies to ensure that no one is left behind in the pursuit of a greener and more equitable future.
The ILO Director discussed a number of ILO tools such as Greening TVET and skills development: A practical guidance tool. He also highlighted the importance of the EU as a funding and knowledge partner to the ILO on a range of programmes and projects such as the Partnership for Action on Green Economy, the UN Global Accelerator on Jobs and Social Protection for Just Transitions and the Just Transition Pavilion at the UN Climate Change Conference.
Lastly, calling for further multilateral cooperation, Gueye presented the ILO Global Coalition for Social Justice. “The ILO welcomes the EU joining the Global Coalition for Social Justice and looks forward to engaging with the EU and its Member States to create a sustainable world, with decent work and social justice for all,” he concluded.
Organized by the Belgian Presidency of the EU and coordinated by the Belgian Minister of Climate, the Environment, Sustainable Development and the Green Deal, Zakia Khattabi, the conference discussed the outlines of a Just Transition Policy Framework fit for the future. “The triple crisis is not just an environmental issue, it is the social issue of this century,” opened Khattabi.
Speaking to representatives of the EU Member States, the EU institutions and civil society, Gueye discussed how the world of work is a key actor and driver of change towards sustainability. By adopting the right policies and measures, tens of millions of new green jobs can be created, as the ILO estimates that a shift to circular economies could create 78 million jobs. An additional 20 million jobs could be generated worldwide if investments in nature-based solutions were tripled by 2030.
Achieving positive outcomes from addressing the environmental crisis requires a just transition which maximizes the social and economic opportunities of climate and environmental action, including an enabling environment for sustainable enterprises, while minimizing and carefully managing challenges.
Employment losses, decent work deficits, inequality and sectoral and educational misalignments must be addressed. Furthermore, technological change, demographic shifts, migration, persistent informality of the labour market, and gender disparities are additional challenges to a just transition for all.
Gueye further underscored the importance of effective social dialogue, respect for labour rights, and ensuring a just transition across countries and economic sectors, including in the informal economy.
The ILO Guidelines for a just transition towards environmentally sustainable economies and societies for all provide a solid framework to design and implement comprehensive policies to ensure that no one is left behind in the pursuit of a greener and more equitable future.
The ILO Director discussed a number of ILO tools such as Greening TVET and skills development: A practical guidance tool. He also highlighted the importance of the EU as a funding and knowledge partner to the ILO on a range of programmes and projects such as the Partnership for Action on Green Economy, the UN Global Accelerator on Jobs and Social Protection for Just Transitions and the Just Transition Pavilion at the UN Climate Change Conference.
Lastly, calling for further multilateral cooperation, Gueye presented the ILO Global Coalition for Social Justice. “The ILO welcomes the EU joining the Global Coalition for Social Justice and looks forward to engaging with the EU and its Member States to create a sustainable world, with decent work and social justice for all,” he concluded.