The inaugural Dialogue under the United Arab Emirates’ Just Transition Work Programme convened in Bonn, Germany, from June 2 to 3, 2024. Opening speakers stressed the necessity of comprehensive, inclusive, equitable, and just approaches to a sustainable future.
The Dialogue brought together 170 Party representatives and non-party observers to discuss just transition pathways to achieving the Paris Agreement goals through Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), and Long-term, low-emission development strategies (LT-LEDS).
Ambassador Nabeel Munir, Chair of the UNFCCC’s Subsidiary Body for Implementation, opened the meeting by emphasizing the significant opportunity the just transition presents in addressing climate change. He highlighted the need for inclusive, equitable, and just pathways that empower communities, protect workers’ rights, and foster opportunities in green industries.
Iman Ustadi, Deputy Chief Negotiator for the COP28 Presidency in Dubai, underscored the just transition’s importance as a cornerstone of the UAE Consensus achieved last year. She stressed that the just transition is crucial for sustainable development and prosperity, ensuring no one is left behind and further operationalizing international cooperation.
High-level representatives from the incoming COP29 and COP30 Presidencies were also present, emphasizing the Dialogue’s significance.
Growing Momentum for Just Transition, Need for Concrete Climate Plans
Recent data indicates a rising inclusion of just transition principles in national climate action plans. Currently, 38% of NDCs and 57% of LT-LEDS explicitly reference these principles.
Simon Stiell, Executive Secretary of UN Climate Change, warned that concrete plans are necessary to ensure that no one is left behind in the transition. He emphasized the importance of designing policies through dialogue and engagement with all societal sectors, tailored to specific contexts, whether developed or developing, urban or rural.
Participants in Bonn highlighted the need to embed just transition elements in all NDCs, NAPs, and LT-LEDS, ensuring the inclusion of marginalized groups and those affected by the transition. They stressed the importance of engaging youth and considering their voices in planning and implementation. This can be achieved through comprehensive policy frameworks that align just transition with national priorities and early stakeholder engagement. Empowering local communities to design and implement their own just transition plans was also emphasized.
Addressing Challenges and Enhancing International Cooperation
The Dialogue in Bonn identified several challenges, including financial barriers, capacity-building needs, and mitigating the socioeconomic impacts of the transition both within and between countries. Participants underscored that accelerating the just transition requires enhanced international cooperation, knowledge exchange, and regional and multilateral coordination.
The first Dialogue under the UAE Just Transition Work Programme marks a significant step towards a collaborative and inclusive approach to addressing climate change, emphasizing the need for concrete actions and global cooperation to ensure a just and sustainable transition.
