Members of the Just Transition Alliance will be attending this week’s National Climate Stakeholder Forum. In advance of the forum we have written to Minister Eamon Ryan (Full letter here) to express our deep and growing concern over the ongoing failure of government to put in place suitable and appropriate structures to help ensure full delivery of a Just Transition for affected workers and communities in all areas of the economy and across the country.
As members of the Just Transition Alliance we have particular concerns relating to the failure to significantly progress commitments on the establishment of a Just Transition Commission, as pledged in both the 2022 and 2023 Climate Action Plans. And have a very specific suggestion on how Government might move forward quickly on their commitments by utilising Section 7 of the NESDO Act (2006) to move urgently and immediately to set up new the Just Transition Commission. The new body would sit alongside NESC and utilise the same stakeholder/ social dialogue model that has served that body so well, over the years.
The letter reminds the Minister that proactive engagement with affected communities and workers and strong mechanisms for Social Dialogue, are essential components of a genuine Just Transition, as set out under the Paris Agreement and outlined in the International Labour Organisation’s key guidelines developed in 2015.
We also draw to his attention a general discussion due to happen at the ILO next month to evaluate and update the debate on just transition. The ILO Guidelines have contributed substantially to the focus on employment and social impacts of the needed transition and for unions in supporting members to have a role in the planning in their workplaces and industries as well as in negotiating provisions and programs with employers and governments. Unions will be seeking to reclaim the term to its original meaning and away from the now very broad usage of the term in national and global policy arenas.
We also note the recent important statement by IHREC which also calls for the urgent establishment of a Just Transition Commission.
And we look forward to constructive engagement with stakeholders at the forum this week. Our founding document is available here
