Building on the outcomes of the UN climate change conference, members of the Climate Action for Jobs initiative welcomed new board members and discussed ways to scale up support and collaboration to advance a just transition towards environmentally sustainable economies and societies.
GENEVA (ILO News) – The International Advisory Board of the Climate Action for Jobs Initiative (CA4J) met to review progress and plan action to build on the positive outcomes of the latest UN climate change conference (COP27).
The Board discussed a report from the CA4J Secretariat that outlined the significant progress that has been made at national and global levels, through the efforts of the CA4J initiative.
Critical priorities, such as scaling up country implementation, were identified. The Board also discussed opportunities to strengthen the impact of the initiative, including expanding partnerships with Multilateral Development Banks.
The meeting, which took place on 9 March, welcomed two new Board members, Germany and the United States of America (USA). Their accession strengthens the Board and supports its efforts to advance decent work and social justice at a time when urgent and ambitious responses to climate change are needed.
The CA4J is a multistakeholder partnership led by the International Labour Organization (ILO) that works to ensure that the need for decent jobs and social justice is taken into account in designing and implementing action on climate change. The Initiative works with a coalition of 49 countries, at all levels of development, on assessments, policy analysis, and the design and implementation of just transition policy tools at national level.
The Board represents governments, employers’ and workers’ organizations and regional development banks. It sets a path for the CA4J to contribute to the shaping of a new work programme on a just transition, as mandated by the Sharm el-Sheikh Implementation Plan, which was agreed at the COP27 summit in December 2022.
Welcoming the USA’s membership, Thea Mei Lee, Deputy Undersecretary for International Affairs, U.S. Department of Labor said, “the United States is committed to a just transition both at home and abroad. We are delighted to serve on the Climate Action for Jobs Board. It is part of our commitment to support a just transition around the world.”
Dirk Meyer, Director-General on global health, employment, transformation of the economy, digital technologies and food and nutrition security of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development of Germany, said, “for Germany, the promotion of green jobs and skills is the key leverage to reach our goal of a just transition to a global green economy, an economy that is not only carbon and resource efficient but more gender equitable and socially just. We see the Climate Action for Jobs Initiative is an important instrument and we stand ready to support.”
Mia Seppo, Assistant Director-General of the ILO, reaffirmed the ILO’s commitment to working with all partners to address climate change and decent work deficits, and advance social justice worldwide. She told meeting delegates that at the next International Labour Conference, in June 2023, there will be a general discussion on “A just transition, including consideration of industrial policies and technology, towards environmentally sustainable economies and societies for all.”
