As countries undertake initiatives to address the climate crisis, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) has said that a just transition was crucial to harness the benefits of a resilient, low-carbon economy, create decent work, and ensure no one is left behind.

For developing countries in particular, the ILO warned that climate impacts threaten efforts to realise the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

ILO, in its submission at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP29), presented a critical moment to enhance ambition and enable the urgently needed climate action to address the climate crisis.

It stated that the conference was set against a global backdrop of interlinked crises marked by conflicts, socio-economic fragility, and the need to build social consensus for climate action that leaves no one behind.

According to the ILO, the need for ambition and action is more critical than ever to preserve the 1.5-degree target and move the world towards a climate-resilient pathway while ensuring a just transition for all.

ILO Director-General, Gilbert Houngbo, said that just transition policies must prioritise labour rights and decent work.

He stated that the world of work has been severely impacted by climate change, with intensified heat waves, forest fires, floods, desertification, and drought causing widespread devastation.
These impacts, he said, have hit workers, enterprises, and communities hard.

Houngbo said that the threats posed by climate change are especially severe for those already facing socio-economic vulnerabilities, including women, persons with disabilities, youth, indigenous and tribal peoples, and migrant and refugee workers, among others.

He said in a world striving for a sustainable future, the foundation of effective just transition policies lies in upholding labour rights, fostering social dialogue, and ensuring decent work for all.

These policies, he said, must be gender-responsive, recognising that empowering women was essential for ambitious climate actions and achieving social justice.

To build climate resilience, the ILO chief said universal social protection and robust occupational safety and health measures are indispensable.

According to him, sustainable businesses, along with targeted skills development and comprehensive industrial and employment policies, are the cornerstones for creating more and better jobs.

He stressed that investing in a just transition was not just a moral imperative but a prudent financial decision, benefiting both people and the planet, adding “By embracing these principles, we can pave the way for a more equitable and resilient future. A gender-responsive approach drives adaptation and mitigation, while universal social protection is key to climate resilience.

“Sustainable enterprises and skills development create better jobs, and financing a just transition invests in people and the planet. Effective social dialogue leads to ambitious, inclusive, and actionable Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).”