Opinion

COP28: protect workers’ livelihoods in any green energy transition

The global working class is set to lose jobs in industries such as carmaking, or face more exploitative conditions in others, such as mining

At COP28, governments must speak up for the masses as there can be no climate justice if they are left to pay for the economic shift

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Women from the Masakhane township are seen on a coal mine dump at the coal-powered Duvha power station, near Emalahleni, east of Johannesburg, on November 17, 2022. Living in the shadow of one of South Africa’s largest coal-fired power stations, locals fear job losses if the facility is closed as the country moves to cleaner energy. Photo: AP

Rizwan Basir, a sociologist, is a senior technical specialist at the Climate Resourcing and Coordination Centre (CRCC) in Islamabad, Pakistan.

Published: 9:30am, 5 Oct 2023

The working class must be wary of how rich nations sculpt the narrative around a “just transition” during the COP28 UN climate summit. While grand declarations of climate justice will echo, a grim reality will linger in the shadows of the negotiation rooms – one of mounting joblessness, worker exploitation and back-breaking inflation.

The core assertion of nations touting a just transition is that it is possible to have an energy shift that improves the position of the working class. This, however, is not true. The transition unfolds within capitalism, a system where shifts in the means of production often disadvantage workers instead of empowering them.

The solution isn’t to discard capitalism or to halt the transition altogether – those are lofty ideals. Rather, it’s to sensitise the developed world to the challenges this energy shift might pose, and implement policies to safeguard the livelihoods of those at risk.

It’s crucial to recognise that the shift to alternative solutions isn’t solely propelled by climate urgency; geopolitics also plays a significant role. For instance, a fierce race for dominance in electric vehicles (EVs) is under way. China leads, while the United States and Europe aim to catch up.