Exchange on Climate Matters and Just Transition – North Central Region

Asides from the huge challenges to human security, climate change continues to lead to economic contraction by disrupting agricultural exports and the economic infrastructure that are based on industries which affect the environment. Hence, a just transition to a green economy is more urgent than ever.

For the ILO, Climate change and environmental degradation continue to pose significant challenges to economic growth and employment today, and risks are even greater in the medium-to-long term. By contrast, climate change action and the shift to a green economy can lead to more and better jobs. However, this shift must be done in such a way its processes and policies help avoid economic changes that result in increased social inequality, worker disillusionment, strikes or civil unrest and reduced productivity, as well as less competitive businesses, and markets in the sectors affected.

As part of our Socially Just and Sustainable Economic Development Programme, and in line with our new drive to build and strengthen alliances on economic growth and development, the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Nigeria, in collaboration with Coalition for Socio-Ecological Transformation (CoSET) and the We Unite Foundation, organized an Exchange (capacity strengthening session) on Climate Change and Just Transition for the North Central Region in Jos.

The exchange session brought together experts, thinkers, policymakers, and professionals in the field of climate change and just transition, drawn from different areas, including academics, CSOs, climate activists, media, youth and women groups, and the ministry of environment, among others.

In the end, participants agreed that a just transition meant greening the economy in a way that is as fair and inclusive as possible to everyone concerned, creating decent work opportunities, and leaving no one behind. They also agreed to cooperate under an alliance to foster conversations around climate change and just transitions.