Ensure a just transition for workers in fossil fuel industry too

The global attention has been in Baku, Azerbaijan, where the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) ended last week. COP29 serves as a critical platform for international climate discussions, bringing together world leaders, scientists, activists, trade unions, and frontline communities to address the ongoing climate crisis. At the forefront of the agenda this year is climate finance, a vital topic in the global effort to combat climate change.

To keep global warming below the crucial threshold of 1.5 to 2°C and prevent irreversible damage to our societies, the world must achieve climate neutrality by 2050. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is not just an environmental necessity—it is a top priority for the trade union movement which remains committed to ensuring a just transition toward a green economy through mitigation strategies.

These impacts affect everyone, but workers’ livelihoods, particularly those in vulnerable sectors, face the greatest threat. As such, it is essential for trade unions to actively participate in climate adaptation discussions. Trade unions are key stakeholders in advocating for worker protections, shaping policies that safeguard the world of work, and addressing emerging trends driven by climate change. Fossil fuel-related sectors are bearing the brunt of this transition as countries accelerate their commitments in line with the Paris Agreement. Trade unions, especially in the Global South, have a critical role to play in helping workers to build resilience through climate-responsive collective bargaining agreements.

The global push for phasing down and eventually phasing out fossil fuels is a necessary step toward clean energy and job creation, but it is also causing significant loss and damage to communities, particularly those reliant on fossil fuel industries. Workers in these sectors and their dependents are becoming increasingly vulnerable as their jobs and livelihoods face disruption. The fossil fuel industry supports indirect jobs through supply chains and local economic activities, highlighting the cascading effects of the energy transition on broader community wellbeing and economic stability.

This energy transition is creating profound social impacts, including company closures, job redundancies, income loss, weakening local economies, and a rise in mental health issues as individuals confront the uncertainty of their futures

To protect workers from these impacts, it is crucial to implement a Just Transition framework that adheres to principles of fairness and inclusivity. This involves several key elements being solidarity mechanisms to support the most vulnerable sectors and regions, adequate social protection and capacity-building programmes to help workers adapt and build resilience and effective social dialogue and strong worker participation at every stage of the transition, ensuring that their voices are heard and represented.

For this transition to be successful, it must be backed by sufficient financing to support the necessary adaptation measures. This is where COP29’s emphasis on climate finance becomes critical.

As a representative of one of the most vulnerable worker sectors, the Kenya Petroleum Oil Workers and Gas Workers Union (KPOWU) through ‘#keepthepromise’ campaign calls on wealthy nations to honour their climate finance commitments, as outlined in Article 9 of the Paris Agreement.

Mr Greene is a climate justice advocate and KPOWU Just Transition coordinator