The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) is hosting the Just Transition Global South Exchange from 16 to 18 September, bringing together trade unions, civil society and government representatives primarily from Africa and the Global South to deliberate on and formulate a Global South stance on climate change.

Climate change and what to do about it has been discussed for many years at various forums including the upcoming COP29 in Azerbaijan in November.

Developed countries have been the biggest polluters. Whilst developing or the least developed countries have contributed the least towards pollution but when it comes to agreements, they are expected to make unequal adjustments. In addition, countries that can least afford to make commitments are placed under massive pressure to make them.

South Africa, for instance, is struggling to increase employment and to revive industrialisation. Given the country has coal in abundance, thousands of badly needed local jobs will be at risk if we stop using it immediately. Consequently, part of the engagements at an international level must consider how developing countries in the Global South should be equipped and supported to make changes at a pace that suits their level of economic development.

Inherent in adjusting towards a low carbon economy at a suitable pace, is the notion of a just transition. A Just transition, for example, means workers in companies that might shut down because of the move towards a green economy, are accommodated through reskilling and finding new jobs or via different forms of social protection. This equally must take into account direct and indirect jobs, value chains and affected communities.

A just transition conversation around coalmines must address the needs and jobs of thousands of coalminers. A transition that does not consider how workers and communities will be impacted is fundamentally unjust, particularly as communities bear the brunt of climate change whilst also being the least equipped to tackle it.

Climate change has a significant class impact as seen during recent floods. Communities that lose their homes and belongings in floods are low-income communities that live on riverbanks and in informal settlements. When the rivers rise, they are flooded and lose everything. Wealthy communities are shielded because they do not live in floodplains and have insurance to cover losses.

Climate change also has a gendered impact. Changing weather patterns increase diseases such as malaria. The burden of caring for the sick often falls on women.

Trade unions internationally have been pushing for a just transition. Unions in the Global South do not have a strong voice or a unified Global South position, or a just transition framework for Africa and African trade unions. The Global South Exchange is an attempt to pull together unions in Africa primarily, and progressive unions from the Global South to develop a progressive position to push among unions broadly, and to engage in at the various forums. It also presents an opportunity to learn from each other experiences while exploring country/society-specific solutions and advancing own interests. 

The goal of developing a position common to unions in Africa is to help inform inputs towards COP and other forums like to the G20 next year, which has a workstream on climate change. Through concretising the Global South position and demands, the unions are preparing to engage effectively in discussions, ensuring that decisions reached also respond to Global South interests.    

The three-day programme will cover a range of issues including climate change and just transition financing. Billions are required to finance the just transition; where will the funding come from? Will it be loans or grants? What are the terms of the finance?

Delegates will explore plans for immediate climate change adaption including public employment programmes to better protect people from climate change. For example, how do the people living on the riverbanks stop regular flooding.

The Exchange will also look at social protection for workers who lose their jobs and cannot find other employment; ensuring carbon intensive industries become greener, stay open and retain jobs; explore social ownership and social employment opportunities. Finally, the unions will discuss how to assess their own engagements in the just transition including what is working, what isn’t, achievements and failures.

COSATU is proud to host the Global South Exchange, which is essentially about building a response to climate change and a just transition, where worker organisations are strengthened through solidarity.    

Issued by COSATU.