COP29 side-event with PAGE

Key resources

• PAGE at: https://www.un-page.org/event/page-at-cop29/
• ILO web-page for COP29 (to see under “Just Transition Pavilion): https://www.ilo.org/ilo-cop29
• COP29 ILO Just Transition Pavilion, Blue Zone | Livestreaming on ILO Live https://live.ilo.org/events/vision-practice-just-transition-all-part-1-2024-11-20)  

Background

On 20-21 November 2024, at COP29, in Baku, Azerbaijan, the United Nations Partnership for Action on a Green Economy (PAGE) and its partners -- including the Issue-based Coalition for Environment and Climate Change in Europe and Central Asia -- put forward the debate on a just transition for all to enhance ambition and to build the required social consensus for implementing bold climate measures. 

Climate change is one of the largest and most complex existential challenges of our time, outpacing predictions and placing immense strain on global communities, labour markets, businesses and workplaces. COP29 represents one of the last major chances to get the world back on track and hold nations accountable for delivering on their environmental targets, with a focus on ensuring developing nations receive adequate support.

At the ILO Just Transition Pavilion at COP29, PAGE and its partners will host the event on “From Vision to Practice for a Just Transition for All: a cross-regional South-South Policy Dialogue on energy, sustainable finance, and enterprises for inclusive policy-making processes and enhancing NDC ambition”. The event consists of two-day policy dialogues, which aim to create synergies and connections among governments, employers, workers, and key climate actors in the margins of COP29. 

By using a South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC) approach, the event fosters mutual learning and collaboration among countries facing similar challenges and opportunities. It will bring together stakeholders from Europe and Central Asia region, Asia and the Pacific region, Arab States, and Latin-American region, UN-PAGE agencies (UNDP-UNEP-UNIDO-UNITAR-ILO), UNESCAP, ASEAN, and the UN Issue-based coalition Environment and Climate Change of Europe and Central Asia.

Engaging employers and workers and other partners is key for building social consensus and achieving a just transition. On 20 November, the policy dialogue will focus on peer learning and knowledge sharing of initiatives to promote green jobs, sustainable enterprise development and circular approaches for a just transition and decent work in the labour market, and enhancing Nationally Determined Contributions. 

On 21 November, the policy dialogue will focus on the regional dimensions and policy recommendations for NDCs contributions considering elements of collaboration on sustainable financing, just transition finance, biodiversity, sustainable development and green economy.

PAGE is a One-UN pioneer bringing together the expertise of five UN agencies – ILO, UNEP, UNDP, UNIDO and UNITAR – to help governments advance economic policy coherence and climate action for a green, circular, and just transition. PAGE also engages across the UN system and through the UN Resident Coordinator network, to leverage collective expertise in economic thinking, offering deeper policy advice to partners and contributing to a strengthened global understanding of green economy principles.

The UN Issue-based coalitions (IBCs) are key platforms to advance policy thematic work in UNCT and UNRCOs on strengthening environmental and climate change governance, improving environmental management and climate change mitigation and adaptation, contributing to the achievement of the SDGs and the relevant commitments and undertakings under multilateral environmental agreements, including the NDCs. 

The COPs are the biggest and most important annual climate-related conferences on the planet. This year marks the 29th annual summit. The previous COP was held in the United Arab Emirates.