ILO lends support to Antigua and Barbuda Nationally Determined Contribution Just Transitions Dialogue sessions
In 2021, the ILO, in partnership with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Antigua and Barbuda Department of Environment, developed a project to support the process on nationally determined contribution targets in Antigua and Barbuda.
12 December 2022
In 2021, the ILO, in partnership with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Antigua and Barbuda Department of Environment, developed a project to support the process on nationally determined contribution targets in Antigua and Barbuda. The project “ILO Support to Antigua and Barbuda Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) and Just Transition” funded by the UNDP Climate Promise Global Fund, had five main areas:
It was even more important, for dialogue to occur at local and community levels, as everyone within Antigua and Barbuda is impacted by climate change and is needed to play an important role in building resilience to this global phenomenon. Antigua and Barbuda has set ambitious targets to be 86 per cent reliable on renewable energy and sale of electric vehicles only by 2030.
The aim of the sessions focused on the recognition of the importance of tripartite collaboration and dialogue in any decent work just transition process and strategy development for Antigua and Barbuda or any other country. One of the main messages coming out of the ILO’s dialogue session series, from Antigua and Barbuda tripartite constituents and other wider stakeholders from Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions Gender directorate and Statistical bureau and community-based organizations was that the voices of the most affected and vulnerable are necessary if there is to be a fair and equitable approach to low carbon and to the country’s climate action agenda.
The Labour Commissioner, Mrs Eltonia Anthony-Rojas, during the dialogue session series noted that 2030 was “basically, tomorrow”. Her message was as we are prepared to re-green our economy, we all must consider the world of work, and asked “what will work look like in the near future”. The Ministry of Labour is committed to championing the cause of ensuring that no worker is left behind as we transition towards cleaner forms of energy use. It is the only way forward.
One special in-person sessions was held with support of the Antigua and Barbuda Workers’ Union and the Antigua and Barbuda Employers’ Federation specifically to build capacity among the stakeholders of Union and Employers. The capacity building session gave insight into the concepts of decent work, just transition and greening of the economy. The session beyond just building capacity among stakeholders attempt to benchmark and gain insight from stakeholders on their understanding of the just transition concept and the country’s climate action commitment. Aspects of the country’s climate action targets articulated in the revised Nationally determined contribution for 2021 were expounded by Ms Ezra Christopher of the Department of Environment.
Mr David Massiah, General Secretary, Antigua and Barbuda Workers’ Union encouraged worker stakeholders to be open and engage in the process as they stand at the heart of the transition and must be able to give their input to not hamper but develop a process that would see benefits to all members involved. Similar sentiments were echoed by Mrs Arlene Martin, Executive Secretary of the Antigua and Barbuda Employers’ Federation, who drove home the point that the transition process involved everyone, and employers had their own role to play and needed to be a part of the discussions and planning process.
The final draft Just transition Roadmap was presented by Ms Carolina Ferreira, the ILO’s Green Job Specialist for Latin America and the Caribbean. The roadmap presented a guide on the next steps that needed to be considered and taken by the stakeholders of Antigua and Barbuda inclusive of a governance structure that would allow input and feedback by key stakeholders on the just transition process.
During the final session, Mr. Lars Johansen, Deputy Director of the ILO DWT and Office for the Caribbean, expressed his gratitude to the Government for collaborating with the ILO and the Peace Climate Promise (UNDP), to be part of this project. He noted that the project, was developed with the understanding that moving towards a sustainable future is imperative for all actors in the world of work and beyond. Understanding that jobs, productivity, income, stability, as well as workers’ health and safety are already negatively impacted by climate change.
- NDC Just Transition (JT) labour impact assessment;
- gender responsive approach;
- JT capacity building needs;
- JT communication needs; and
- social dialogue.
It was even more important, for dialogue to occur at local and community levels, as everyone within Antigua and Barbuda is impacted by climate change and is needed to play an important role in building resilience to this global phenomenon. Antigua and Barbuda has set ambitious targets to be 86 per cent reliable on renewable energy and sale of electric vehicles only by 2030.
The aim of the sessions focused on the recognition of the importance of tripartite collaboration and dialogue in any decent work just transition process and strategy development for Antigua and Barbuda or any other country. One of the main messages coming out of the ILO’s dialogue session series, from Antigua and Barbuda tripartite constituents and other wider stakeholders from Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions Gender directorate and Statistical bureau and community-based organizations was that the voices of the most affected and vulnerable are necessary if there is to be a fair and equitable approach to low carbon and to the country’s climate action agenda.
The Labour Commissioner, Mrs Eltonia Anthony-Rojas, during the dialogue session series noted that 2030 was “basically, tomorrow”. Her message was as we are prepared to re-green our economy, we all must consider the world of work, and asked “what will work look like in the near future”. The Ministry of Labour is committed to championing the cause of ensuring that no worker is left behind as we transition towards cleaner forms of energy use. It is the only way forward.
One special in-person sessions was held with support of the Antigua and Barbuda Workers’ Union and the Antigua and Barbuda Employers’ Federation specifically to build capacity among the stakeholders of Union and Employers. The capacity building session gave insight into the concepts of decent work, just transition and greening of the economy. The session beyond just building capacity among stakeholders attempt to benchmark and gain insight from stakeholders on their understanding of the just transition concept and the country’s climate action commitment. Aspects of the country’s climate action targets articulated in the revised Nationally determined contribution for 2021 were expounded by Ms Ezra Christopher of the Department of Environment.
Mr David Massiah, General Secretary, Antigua and Barbuda Workers’ Union encouraged worker stakeholders to be open and engage in the process as they stand at the heart of the transition and must be able to give their input to not hamper but develop a process that would see benefits to all members involved. Similar sentiments were echoed by Mrs Arlene Martin, Executive Secretary of the Antigua and Barbuda Employers’ Federation, who drove home the point that the transition process involved everyone, and employers had their own role to play and needed to be a part of the discussions and planning process.
The final draft Just transition Roadmap was presented by Ms Carolina Ferreira, the ILO’s Green Job Specialist for Latin America and the Caribbean. The roadmap presented a guide on the next steps that needed to be considered and taken by the stakeholders of Antigua and Barbuda inclusive of a governance structure that would allow input and feedback by key stakeholders on the just transition process.
During the final session, Mr. Lars Johansen, Deputy Director of the ILO DWT and Office for the Caribbean, expressed his gratitude to the Government for collaborating with the ILO and the Peace Climate Promise (UNDP), to be part of this project. He noted that the project, was developed with the understanding that moving towards a sustainable future is imperative for all actors in the world of work and beyond. Understanding that jobs, productivity, income, stability, as well as workers’ health and safety are already negatively impacted by climate change.