Event Recording
Organizer
Background
The vision, key policy areas, and guiding principles of just transition are established in the International Labour Organization’s Guidelines for a just transition towards environmentally sustainable economies and societies for all (‘ILO Just Transition Guidelines’), adopted in 2015 through international tripartite consensus. The ILO Just Transition Guidelines offer a policy framework and practical guidance for Governments, workers’ and employers' organizations on how to formulate, implement, and monitor this policy framework and promotes mechanisms for social dialogue throughout policy making processes at all levels.
Skills development is one of key policy areas to address environmental, economic and social sustainability and one of pillars of the ILO Just Transition Guidelines. The transition to an environmentally sustainable and low-carbon economy is conditional on countries’ implementation of their commitments to the Paris Agreement. The country commitments, or nationally determined contributions (NDCs) highlight adaptation and mitigation measures in targeted economic sectors. The far-reaching goals that governments have put forward in their climate change commitments in the energy, agriculture, waste, manufacturing, transport, construction and tourism sectors will require the availability of right and relevant skills in these industries to achieve objectives of the 2030 Agenda, creation of the decent work and greening economies.
The ILO’s own research shows that the transition to energy sustainability and circular economy could lead to a job creation of 103 million cumulatively globally by 2030. However, some 78 million jobs could be lost. This means that it would require massive investment in skilling, reskilling and upskilling to tap into the new employment creation potential, and to enable a transition of workers from declining to growing sectors. A just transition requires that education and training are considered essential for all individuals at all stages of their lives.
Objectives
With perspectives and experiences from industry, trade unions, country and experts, this session aims to discuss
- Why skills development is essential for a just and green transition;
- What kind of skills we would need for a greener future;
- How we can make sure that the current and future workers are fully equipped with the relevant skills to contribute to a just and green transition.
Structure & Speakers
| Time |
Segment and Speakers |
| 5 mins |
Introductions and setting the scene by the moderator |
| 40 mins |
Panel session: “How can we green skills for a just transition?”
Moderator
Speakers
- Hae-Kyeung Chun, Skills and Employability Branch, ILO
- Robert Marinkovic, IOE
- Jas Giri, Rail & Maritime Transport Union (RMTU New Zealand) & Auckland One Rail
- Shamir Shehab, Bangladesh Youth Environmental Initiative (BYEI)
|
| 10 mins |
Q&A from audience |
| 5 mins |
Closing remarks and wrapping up by moderator |
Key Outcomes
- Reskilling, upskilling,and upgrading skills arean important aspect of the Just Transition towards environmentally sustainable economies and societies for all.
- Education and lifelong learning are critical at all levels beyond the mandatory education requirements. TVET institutions have an important role to play when it comes to preparing the workforce with skills that are responsiveto the needs of the labour market.
- All stakeholders of the world of work such as governments, social partners and education and training providers must be part of the solution. Young people and diverse voices of the private sector and workers organizations should be represented and heard.
