UN Climate Change News, 10 October 2024 –The second dialogue under the United Arab Emirates Just Transition Work Programme took place last week in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.

The dialogue provided a space for participants to discuss ways to ensure support for people-centric and equitable just transition pathways, with a focus on a whole of-society approach (ensuring no one is left behind) and considerations related to the global workforce (such as labour rights, upskilling, labour migration, etc.).

“Just transitions are important enablers of climate ambition and can be an essential tool for fostering action towards achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement while leaving no one behind,” said Daniele Violetti, UN Climate Change’s Senior Director of Programmes Coordination, in his opening address at the dialogue.

The second dialogue brought together 143 participants (with roughly half attending virtually and half attending in person) from Parties  and non-Party stakeholders, including representatives of UNFCCC observer constituencies and UN entities.

Participants identified opportunities, best practices, actionable solutions, challenges, and barriers by responding to a series of guiding questions. For example:

• What strategies can be implemented to ensure that workforce transitions are equitable, create decent work, and uphold labour rights in line with nationally defined development priorities?
• How can inclusive and participatory approaches be integrated into just transition pathways to ensure that all segments of society, including vulnerable groups, are actively engaged and represented?
• How can the integration of upskilling, reskilling, and adaptable education systems ensure the success of just transition pathways?

The dialogues are an integral part of the UAE Just Transition Work Programme and they are significant because they provide an opportunity for  participants to exchange and reflect more deeply on the different elements of the work programme in concrete ways, and on how to ensure just transition pathways are people-centric, equitable and allow us to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement while leaving no one behind.

“This is an important occasion for sharing experiences on approaches that can effectively empower all segments of society for a fair and inclusive workforce transition,” said Violetti.

What happens next

Under the guidance of the Chairs of the Subsidiary Bodies, the secretariat will prepare an informal summary report of the second dialogue, and an annual summary report on both dialogues ahead of COP29.

More information

Please visit the United Arab Emirates Just Transition Work Programme webpage to stay up-to-date.