The climate crisis is putting the entire globe under pressure. Our consumption and production are part of the problem, among other things, through a high emission of greenhouse gases.
Public support, decent framework conditions and new technical solutions are necessary for companies and civil society to implement a green transition that is both beneficial for the planet, economically sound and socially just, especially for workers in developing countries.
Business plays a decisive role in implementing a green transition by developing new technologies, products and services that are better for the climate than the current solutions. But the transformation of environmentally burdensome and labour-intensive sectors such as the extraction of fossil fuels will lead to massive loss of existing jobs. This can throw many workers into unemployment or more precarious employment in the informal economy.
The problem is particularly acute in developing countries, where social protection is often less well developed than in, for example, Denmark.
The social partners have a unique knowledge of and hands-on experience from the sectors they organize and play a decisive role in developing strategies for green transition within their respective areas. They therefore have optimal prerequisites for equipping companies and employees to carry out the green transition.
Our local partners support companies in greening their production. For example, by minimizing the climate footprint of their products and services. This may involve engaging companies and workers in mapping and reducing energy consumption. It may also involve equipping local companies and social partners to seize the opportunities and new jobs created by the green transition, e.g., within sustainable construction, green transportation, or renewable energy.
It is crucial that the transition is carried out with social justice in mind. This includes, among other things, helping the affected workers into new decent jobs. This may, for example, involve promoting an active labour market policy and collective bargaining agreements that include training, reskilling, and social security.