At the COP30 leaders’ summit held on 7 November in Belém, Brazil, social protection was placed at the center of the declaration signed by 43 countries and the European Union. The declaration includes actionable goals, such as supporting climate-vulnerable developing countries to expand social protection coverage by at least two percentage points per year, adapting social protection systems to climate impacts, mobilizing additional climate finance for social protection, and integrating social protection and just transition measures into national climate strategies like Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs).
The ILO reaffirmed its commitment to advancing the Belém Declaration’s objectives and supporting the monitoring of progress. It has advocated for the annual expansion target in developing countries and regularly publishes data on social protection coverage, particularly in nations most vulnerable to climate change. Together with partners including FAO, UNICEF, and UNRISD, the ILO hosted a side event on 12 November to examine the role of social protection in building climate resilience and enabling a just transition. The event emphasized the experiences of workers, young people, and women, highlighting that climate change is an ongoing crisis for informal workers, and underscoring the need to make social protection a universal right rather than a privilege.
Further discussions at a side event on 15 November reinforced that achieving climate goals requires prioritizing social and economic development alongside decarbonization policies. Representatives from South Africa, Mexico, Caritas Brazil, and the Agence française de Développement (AFD) stressed that social investment is essential for a just transition. The ILO’s approach links decent work creation and universal social protection directly to climate action, positioning them as enablers rather than byproducts of mitigation and adaptation efforts.
Momentum around social protection was also reflected in COP30 negotiation outcomes. The Belém Adaptation Indicators now include two indicators on social protection to track global progress on adaptation under the Paris Agreement. Additionally, parties agreed to develop a just transition mechanism to operationalize discussions on social protection and ensure implementation on the ground. Throughout the conference, ILO specialists provided expertise to support deliberations and embed social protection and just transition measures into international climate action frameworks.
