The Concept of Just Transition: Resolving Implications of Climate Change through International Labour Standards

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Updated 1 year ago

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Climate Change and its negative implications has been the crux of  discussions at many international and national forums. However, till today Climate Change adaptation and  strategies are yet to achieve clarity and proper channelization. Nevertheless, one cannot blame the structural measures in battling against the repercussions of Climate Change, as the issue of Climate Change is cross-sectional and involves a set of its own intricacies. Besides such complexities, there is however a concurrence on how changes in the climate have been majorly a result of human activity. In fact, as per the world scientists, 100 percent of global warming is apprehended as a contribution of human activity.  

In the wider spectrum of such human activity, it is evident that much of the contribution to Climate Change is industrial and is derived from the employment sector of the nations. For instance, if there were no usage of plastic covers in packaging products in the market, and instead there were alternative biodegradable covers in use, the disposal and environmental effects from the same could be curbed at the very onset. Such a transition to an ecologically friendly economy and the market is not only relevant for the environment but also has larger consequences. The subject matter of Climate Change has an oceanic focal point, the effects of which are not just on the natural flora and fauna but also on social and economic equity. It will therefore, not be wrong to say that if the issue of Climate Change remains unaddressed, then it will not only lead to a mass clearance of resources and species but also lead to colossal and abject poverty due to global warming and other uncertain natural calamities. This holds true for industries fiercely dependent on natural resources like the energy sector, agriculture, land and forestry on which more than 50 percent of the Indian workforce is dependent. Ironically, these are the same sectors which also contribute to major greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Therefore, to put it in concise terms – the working of labour forces and Climate Change are cyclically interrelated. Similarly, if working of the labour force is funnelled into introducing greener and alternative technologies in the respective sectors, not only will the employment in most of these Indian sectors flourish but also the climate will be positively mitigated to a stable and sustainable place.

This epiphany concerning the growth of 

Sustainable development with the Socio-economic development was first documented and established as the three pillars at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), Rio de Janeiro in the year 1992. Later, in an effort to shape these three pillars as a reality, in the year 2008 the International Labour Organization (ILO), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and the International Organisation of Employers (IOE) drafted and launched the report Green Jobs: Towards Decent work in a Sustainable, Low- Carbon World. The report has made an important contribution to understanding the challenges associated with the transition to so-called “green jobs” worldwide. The term “just transition” is explained as a shift in the process that is constant with social justice and equity. However, such a transition cannot take place unless there are other supportive factors i.e. good governance and policy coherence.

Just transition

labour

ILO

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