27 November, 2024The 29th UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan, ended with disappointing results, particularly for workers. The outcomes failed to address urgent needs in climate finance and Just Transition, leaving significant gaps in how the climate crisis, and its social impacts are being tackled.
On climate finance, countries agreed to triple finance to developing countries, from the previous goal of USD 100 billion annually, to USD 300 billion annually by 2035. While this is an improvement over earlier negotiations, it is still a far cry from the $1.3 trillion that experts say is needed to confront the scale of the crisis. Wealthy countries once again avoided committing adequate public funding, forcing poorer nations to rely on loans that will deepen their debt. This leaves vulnerable countries stuck in a cycle of borrowing, rather than receiving the genuine support they need to build resilience against climate impacts.
For workers, COP29 was nothing short of a betrayal. The Just Transition Work Programme (JTWP), which was supposed to create pathways for workers as economies transition to greener models, made zero progress. There were no commitments on funding, no agreements on policy implementation leaving workers in vulnerable sectors and the global south unprotected and at risk. The exclusion of unions from critical discussions only compounded this injustice, stripping workers of their voice in decisions that will directly affect their livelihoods.
Efforts to accelerate the energy transition also stalled. Proposals to build on the UAE energy package from COP28—such as tripling renewable energy capacity, phasing out fossil fuels, and cutting subsidies for fossil fuels—were blocked. There was no clear roadmap for improving energy storage or grid infrastructure, and no mechanisms to track progress toward these goals. This failure to act with urgency and ambition threatens the 1.5°C target and delays the global shift to sustainable energy systems, putting us further behind in the fight to save the planet.
While there were some steps forward on adaptation, such as the launch of the Baku Adaptation Road Map and guidance on tracking resilience, progress on national climate plans (Nationally Determined Contributions, NDCs) has been delayed until 2025. These new climate plans must cover all greenhouse gases and all sectors, to keep the 1.5°C warming limit within reach.
Once again, human rights and gender issues were pushed aside in the negotiations. The Lima Work Programme on gender was extended for another 10 years, but with no new stronger measures to address the urgent need for equity and human rights in climate action. This lack of innovation weakens the inclusiveness and effectiveness of climate policies, reinforcing systemic inequalities that undermine the wellbeing of the most marginalized communities.
“For unions, COP29 exposed several systemic failures. The exclusion of workers from negotiations ignores their vital role in climate action. Wealthy countries’ refusal to honor their financial commitments erodes trust and deepens global inequalities. The lack of progress on Just Transition policies leaves millions of workers vulnerable to the impacts of a rapidly changing economy and climate,”
said Diana Junquera Curiel, IndustriALL director for Just Transition and energy.
“Looking ahead to COP30 in Brazil, it’s clear that the fight for fair and effective climate action is far from over. Workers cannot and must not be left behind. Unions must push harder than ever for real, inclusive solutions that center workers’ rights and needs. This means demanding substantial public climate finance that supports developing nations without burdening them with more debt, and ensuring governments implement Just Transition policies that protect workers and put them at the heart of climate action,”
stressed Diana Junquera Curiel.
The results of COP29 make it clear: the world is not moving fast enough, nor inclusively enough, to meet the climate challenge. Unions must continue to hold governments accountable and demand climate justice that works for all people not just the wealthy few. The time for real, people-centered solutions is now.