An ILO dialogue on just transition with indigenous and tribal peoples

The Just Transition Dialogue will bring together ILO Constituents namely, governments and workers’ and employers’ representatives – with leaders from indigenous and tribal peoples. It aims at furthering the following objectives:

• Raising awareness of the concept of just transition as articulated in the ILO Guidelines for a just transition towards environmentally sustainable economies and societies for all among ILO constituents, indigenous peoples and more generally actors shaping global, regional and national policy making related to environmental issues and climate change
• Enabling indigenous and tribal peoples’ perspectives to be heard and constituents to benefit from them as they advance their efforts towards realizing a just transition
• Highlighting and valuing the role of indigenous and tribal peoples in progressing climate action and achieving sustainable development
• Promoting the Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention, 1989 (No. 169) of the ILO as a tool for enhancing rights, participation, dialogue and sustainable development
• Facilitating the search for common understandings and building partnerships.

This event is intended for:

• Experts from relevant government ministries and workers’ organizations and employers’ organizations directly involved in discussions on, or design and implementation of just transition policies and indigenous and tribal peoples’ issues at the national or international levels
• Indigenous and tribal peoples’ representative institutions
• Leads of the main international indigenous fora on SDGs, climate change and biological diversity; Indigenous experts holding mandates in the United Nations system

The Dialogue will be open to observers from diplomatic missions, development partners and international inter-governmental and non-organizations.

The Just Transition Dialogue will include:

• A high-level opening panel on just transition and indigenous and tribal peoples
• Thematic dialogues on supporting indigenous and tribal peoples’ economies, livelihoods and access to decent work, including a specific focus on indigenous and tribal women; and strengthening of public institutions and mechanisms for consultation and participation of indigenous and tribal peoples, including the context of energy transition 
• A roundtable on Convention No. 169
• Engagement and exchange with local indigenous leaders
• Building pathways to a just transition through shared knowledge and responsibilities.

A Just Transition involves maximizing the social and economic opportunities of climate action, while minimizing and carefully managing any challenges for example job losses, unintended consequences of climate policies, and reducing poverty and inequalities to ensure social justice for all.

The Conclusions concerning a just transition towards environmentally sustainable economies and societies for all adopted by the International Labour Conference in 2023 highlighted as a guiding principle for a just transition for all, the need to pay specific attention to indigenous and tribal peoples within the context of promoting gender equality, social inclusion and equity. The conclusions also commit the ILO to engage in dialogue with indigenous peoples.

The Outcomes of the 2023 UN Climate Change Conference (COP28) reaffirm that “sustainable and just solutions to the climate crisis must be founded on meaningful and effective social dialogue and participation of all stakeholders, including Indigenous Peoples, local communities and governments, women, and youth and children”. The outcome document encourages integrated, multi-sectoral climate adaptation strategies that “may offer economic, social and environmental benefits” by building upon the best available science as well as “Indigenous Peoples’ knowledge and local knowledge systems”. It stresses the importance of global solidarity in undertaking adaptation efforts, which should take into account “worldviews and values of Indigenous Peoples” alongside the best available science.

In deciding that the Work programme on just transition pathways should include “Inclusive and participatory approaches to just transitions that leave no one behind”, the COP also acknowledged the importance of respecting, promoting, and considering several issues, including the rights of Indigenous Peoples, in taking action to address climate change.
The Just Transition Dialogue with Indigenous and Tribal Peoples, organized within the framework of the ILO’s efforts to promote a just transition, aims to support and complement processes within the UN climate change mechanism.