A new ILO report, “Mapping just transition in NDC 3.0: Global trends across 123 countries”, highlights a significant increase in references to just transition, employment, and decent work in the latest Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). While the report acknowledges this progress, it emphasizes the critical need to focus on implementation, including labour-related policies that support employment creation, skills development, and social protection, all guided by social dialogue.
These findings were discussed during a dialogue convened by the International Labour Organization (ILO) in January 2026, in partnership with the Geneva Environment Network (GEN) and supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The event brought together representatives from countries such as Barbados, Costa Rica, Türkiye, Bangladesh, the Philippines, and Nigeria, fostering a diverse platform for sharing experiences and approaches across different regional and development contexts.
Moustapha Gueye, Director of the ILO Action Programme on Just Transition, noted that integrating social justice and decent work objectives in NDCs globally demonstrates the central role of social dimensions in ecological transitions.
The dialogue convened governments, employers’ and workers’ organizations, and international partners, who emphasized the importance of social dialogue in ensuring that climate policies deliver benefits for workers, enterprises, and communities. Participants also shared insights on incorporating decent work considerations in NDCs and explored strategies to advance just transition efforts in their respective countries.
