Date and Time
December 2, 2023
4:00 pm-5:00 pm
GST
Location
Dubai (South Africa Pavilion, Blue Zone, Pavilion Number OA20G3)
At COP27, parties agreed on the creation of a new work programme on just transition to “discuss pathways to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement”. A decision was also made to convene an annual high-level ministerial roundtable on just transition, starting at COP28. This emphasizes that people-centered climate action is essential to ensure social cohesion and increase the societal buy-in required for an accelerated and sustainable transition to a net-zero economy—within planetary boundaries and at a pace aligned with science.
The new work programme can be instrumental in advancing and maximizing business contributions to the just transition if it is inclusive and allows for transparent stakeholder participation, including workers, business and civil society. By doing so, it can also help improve governance of just transition at national level – including in JET-P context.
In July 2023, BSR, The B Team and We Mean Business Coalition published the Just Transition Resource Platform, a framework with clear actionable steps for companies and signposts to the best available guides, tools and standards. The Platform outlines what companies should do on just transition across the 4As of Climate Leadership: Ambition, Action, Advocacy, and Accountability.
During the panel event, each speaker will speak to one of the A’s (Ambition, Action, Advocacy and Accountability), explaining what it means in practice for business, especially in a developing context. We will show how business credible engagement on the just transition can support better governance models at national level, and why it is important that business has a seat at the table and can participate in the new work programme on just transition pathways.
Background:
The new UNFCCC Work Programme on just transition pathways In November 2023, BSR, The B Team and We Mean Business Coalition coordinated a joint statement from 14 organizations working with business, financial institutions and employers’ organizations ahead of COP28 recommending that new work programme:
• is founded on meaningful social dialogue and allows for transparent stakeholder participation, including workers, business and civil society;
• seeks to advance decent work and promote greater respect for labour rights and human rights throughout business operations, supply chains and within affected communities;
• conducts in-depth analysis to support development of pathways that are 1.5°C-aligned, ambitious, equitable, and social-justice centered. The pathways should guide the development of strengthened, high-quality Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) by 2025 and subsequent updates;
• seeks to enhance international cooperation to deliver such pathways globally, including through means of implementation support (finance, technology and capacity-building) for countries in the Global South; and
• fosters an enabling environment for sustainable enterprises, with a particular focus on green skills development and on addressing the needs of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and ensuring they are not left behind in the transition to a net-zero economy.
For more information regarding the new UNFCCC Work programme on just transition pathways, please refer to We Mean Business Coalition submission to the consultation process on the work programme.
The Just Transition Resource Platform developed by BSR, The B Team and We Mean Business Coalition aims to support companies in navigating their just transition journey. The Platform provides a step-by-step approach for companies across sectors, and compiles resources, frameworks, and recommendations from leading organizations on how to do so. Businesses can take Action, drive Ambition, pursue Advocacy, and maintain Accountability in their just transition efforts. The Platform signposts to the best available guides, tools and standards, building on the work of leading organizations in this space.
Speakers
● Deborah Gallagher, Climate Director, BSR - Moderator
● Themba Mkhwanazi’s, Regional Director for Africa & Australia, Anglo American
● Pauliina Murphy, Engagement & Communications Director, World Benchmarking Alliance
● Eyal Weintraub, Climate Activist, Argentina