Event Summary: Fostering Social Dialogue for a Just Transition to a Resilient Low-Carbon Economy
Held at: World Conference Centre Bonn, Room Berlin, 19 June 2025
Social consensus has become a cornerstone for climate action that is not only inclusive and resilient, but above all effective. As Parties stepped up efforts to decarbonize their economies in line with the Paris Agreement—limiting global warming to well below 2°C and pursuing efforts to limit it to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels—it became more critical than ever to promote inclusive governance mechanisms that ensure no one is left behind.
In this context, social dialogue, uniting governments, workers, and employers, was shown to be a powerful catalyst for just transitions, supporting decent work, economic resilience, and social protection.
Signed at the 2024 Hamburg Sustainability Conference, the Call to Action highlighted the importance of coordinated global efforts to achieve a socially just transition towards a low-carbon and resilient economy that fosters sustainable growth, decent work, and social inclusion, in line with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 8 and 13. Integrating just transition principles and social dialogue into countries’ climate strategies—including Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), and Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategies (LT-LEDS)—was recognized as a key step to support equitable climate action.
The Call to Action invited governments, workers' and employers' organizations, and all other relevant stakeholders to strengthen cooperation in promoting social dialogue globally through partnerships and practical solutions, aiming to accelerate a just transition in all countries and support sustainable development in its economic, social, and environmental dimensions.
This event explored how social dialogue served as a key enabler of just, inclusive, and resilient transition processes. The initiative aimed to maximize environmental, economic, and social benefits while mitigating the risks of job losses and rising inequalities associated with the green transition. Discussions highlighted experiences from diverse regions, showcased concrete policy tools and frameworks, and encouraged stronger national and international engagement with the Call to Action.
Objective of the Event
Based on the ILO’s publication “Call to Action: fostering social dialogue for a just transition to a resilient low-carbon economy,” which explored the key priorities for joint actions for just transitions on all levels, the event fostered knowledge exchange on policies and practices that promote social justice in climate action. It encouraged more countries to commit to just transition through strengthened social dialogue at all levels.
Agenda Overview
- Opening: Moderators Camilla Roman (ILO) and Stelios Pesmajoglou (UNFCCC) opened the session, introducing the objectives and setting the scene.
- Keynote Context: Camilla Roman (ILO) provided an overview of the Call to Action and the rationale for promoting social dialogue as a central pillar of just transitions. Stelios Pesmajoglou (UNFCCC) highlighted how UNFCCC processes encourage engagement of non-Party stakeholders, including through the Katowice Committee of Experts (KCI) and UNFCCC constituencies.
- Panel Discussion: Invited speakers shared national and institutional experiences on how social dialogue supports just transition implementation. Of special note, Angelina Mensah, Co-Chair of the Katowice Committee of Experts on the Impacts of the Implementation of Response Measures (KCI) from Ghana, played a pivotal role in the discussion, offering unique insights from her leadership in advancing social dialogue within the KCI and highlighting the importance of inclusive approaches for just transitions in Africa and globally. Other distinguished panelists included Jonathan Krull (Federal Foreign Office, Germany), Patrick Rondeau (Quebec Federation of Labour/TUNGO, Canada), and Robert Marinkovic (International Organisation of Employers, Switzerland).
- Interactive Dialogue: Participants engaged in an open exchange, including a Q&A session, sharing national initiatives and best practices for institutionalizing social dialogue.
- Closing: The moderator summarized key discussion points and closed the event.
In summary, the event at World Conference Centre Bonn, Room Berlin, on 19 June 2025, enabled a rich exchange of knowledge and experiences on fostering social dialogue for just transitions, inspiring stronger national and international commitments to equitable and inclusive climate action, with Angelina Mensah’s contributions providing particular depth and leadership to the discussions.
