ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA – The Institute for Labor Studies forwards the Philippine Just Transition positions as countries convene the 4th Dialogue under the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Just Transition Work Programme (JTWP) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) from 01-06 September 2025 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The Global Dialogue focused on “Just Energy Transition Pathways and Holistic Approaches to Just Transitions, including Socioeconomic, Workforce, Social Protection, and Other Dimensions”. It coincides with the 2nd UNFCCC Climate Week and the African Climate Summit, with a theme “Dialogues for Ambition and Implementation”.
Senior Labor and Employment Officer Joe Mari S. Francisco shared the Philippines’ efforts on Workforce Development and Just Energy Transition. He raised that the just transition must be rooted in the national context and priorities. For the Philippines, it means ensuring workers, the community, or the sector are not left behind in the climate transition. The ILS representative continued to share that the Philippines’ just transition looks on: (1) Strengthening social protection and upskilling programs for workers affected by energy transition; and (2) meaningful dialogue with workers, employers, and communities through recognizing them as co-creators of climate actions.
Mr. Francisco also emphasized the need for climate finance, technology transfer, and capacity building from developed countries under the Paris Agreement to ensure energy security and affordability for developing countries, such as the Philippines, which are undergoing climate transitions.
The ILS representative mentioned policy developments, including the updated National Green Jobs Human Resources and Development Plan 2020-2030 and the Philippine Energy Plan 2023-2050. The Plans anticipate the creation and transformation of green jobs in the energy sector, while providing social dialogue mechanisms for workers who are affected by the country’s efforts to transition away from fossil fuels.
Delegates from Turkey, Armenia, and the United Kingdom welcomed the Philippines’ contributions and facilitative role in Just Transition dialogues and negotiations.
The UAE JTWP Dialogue is part of the mandated events in UNFCCC negotiations on just transition that provides a platform for governments, the private sector, labor organizations, and other stakeholders to share experiences, best practices, and challenges in implementing just transition strategies.
Mr. Francisco also attended the 6th Global Dialogue and Investment-focused event under the Sharm el-Sheikh mitigation ambition and implementation work programme. The Dialogue focused on climate mitigation solutions in the waste sector and the circular economy.
The UNFCCC Secretariat is expected to synthesize the outcome of the two Dialogues in October 2025. The synthesis reports are among the references for the upcoming climate negotiations in the 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) to the UNFCCC to be held in Belem, Brazil, from 10 to 21 November 2025.
The ILS is of the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) representatives in the UN climate negotiations. DOLE is co-chair of the Just Transition workstream of the Philippine delegation to the UNFCCC, along with the Department of Energy.
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