*This event is no longer ticketed*

Mandate

The Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement at its fourth session decided to convene, as part of the work programme on just transition, an annual high-level ministerial round table on just transition, beginning at the fifth session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement (Decision 1/CMA.4, para 53)

Background

The COP 29 Presidency is convening the Second Annual High-Level Ministerial Round Table on Just Transition on Monday, 18 November 2024, from 15:00 – 18:00 (AZT/UTC +4) in Baku, Azerbaijan, during the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference.

Decision 1/CMA.4, paragraph 50, affirmed that sustainable and just solutions to the climate crisis must be founded on meaningful and effective social dialogue and participation of all stakeholders and noted that the global transition to low emissions provides opportunities and challenges for sustainable economic development and poverty eradication. The decision also emphasized in its paragraph 51 that just and equitable transition encompasses pathways that include energy, socioeconomic, workforce and other dimensions, all of which must be based on nationally defined development priorities and include social protection so as to mitigate potential impacts associated with the transition. It also decided that such pathways include international cooperation as an enabler of just transition towards achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement.

Decision 3/CMA.5 provided additional guidance on the operationalization of the work programme, deciding that its implementation was to start immediately after CMA 52 and deciding on the elements of the work programme. Decision 3/CMA. 5 also decided that the work programme will inform the second global stocktake and other relevant processes, including the annual high-level ministerial round table on just transition4 and that at least two dialogues will be held each year as part of the work programme. Decision 3/CMA.5 further decided that the outcomes of the annual high-level ministerial round table on just transition may be taken into consideration under the work programme, as appropriate.

The first dialogue under the work programme was held in June 2024 in Bonn and focused on just transition pathways to achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement through NDCs, NAPs and LT-LEDS. The secondDialogue was held in October 2024 in Sharm el-Sheikh focused on ensuring support for people-centric and equitable just transition pathways with a focus on the whole-of-society approach and the workforce, a theme that was further developed with specific focus on approaches for empowering all actors and segments of the society for a fair and inclusive workforce transition to meet Paris Agreement goals; unpacking the full range of means of implementation for a just transition of the work force, exploring current approaches, opportunities and gaps; and international cooperation and partnerships for people-centric and equitable just transitions.

The Second Annual High-Level Ministerial Round Table will be a unique opportunity for Parties to discuss the pathways to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement outlined in Article 2, paragraph 1, in the context of Article 2, paragraph 2, in such a manner as to facilitate a focused exchange of views, information and ideas to provide direction and recommendations for the United Arab Emirates just transition work programme.

Guiding questions

The following guiding questions look to bring focus on the priorities, needs and challenges faced by countries in advancing the implementation of the just transitions pathways that will keep the Paris Agreement goals within reach building on the discussions that have taken place during the two dialogues held this year. It will also bring focus to how the work programme on just transition can be beneficial to the future and better support addressing the challenges faced by countries to achieving long-term climate and sustainable development objectives:

• How can Parties advance their just transition pathways in the context of preparation and implementation of the next round of NDCs and NAPs? How can international cooperation and support on the full range of means of implementation assist Parties to advance their just transition pathways in the context of NDCs and NAPs?
• What are the expectations of Parties with regards to the UAE just transition work programme, and how can it serve as an effective tool for assisting Parties in further defining and implementing their climate plans in the context of just transition pathways that promote sustainable development and poverty eradication?
  
   

Provisional programme

For any questions, please contact jtwp@unfccc.int.