28 October 2016: As the Marrakech Climate Change Conference approaches, the UNFCCC Secretariat has released two documents related to the impact of the implementation of climate change response measures. The first is a technical paper (FCCC/TP/2016/7) by the Secretariat on a just transition of the workforce, and the creation of decent work and quality jobs. The second is a report (FCCC/SB/2016/INF.2) by the Chairs of the subsidiary bodies on a related workshop held from 2-4 October 2016, in Doha, Qatar.

During their 45th sessions during the Marrakech Climate Change Conference being held from 7-18 November, the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) and the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI) are expected to take up the improved forum and work programme on response measures under their respective agenda items on the impact of the implementation of climate change mitigation measures.

Both papers published by the Secretariat will serve as sources of input to Parties’ deliberations on this agenda item. An in-forum discussion to consider the documents will convene during SB45 with a view to agreeing on priority areas, including constituting an ad hoc technical expert group to advance work in those areas, as deemed necessary.

The technical paper assembles and summarizes the work undertaken on response measures under the UNFCCC on a just transition of the workforce, and the creation of decent work and quality jobs, drawing on: reports on the work of the forum on the impact of the implementation of response measures; Party and observer submissions, presentations and statements; national inventory reports; National Communications (NCs); Biennial Reports (BRs); and Biennial Update Reports (BURs); publications by experts, international organizations and research institutes; and inputs from the International Labour Organization (ILO).

The workshop on views and experiences on economic diversification and transformation and on a just transition of the workforce and the creation of decent work and quality jobs was convened as part of the work programme under the improved forum agreed to at the 21st session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 21) in December 2015. The chairs’ report recaps the proceedings of the workshop’s five sessions: status of knowledge on sustainable social and economic transition as part of the implementation of mitigation measures; integrating economic diversification into national strategies: sharing experiences and lessons learned; managing social impacts of sustainable development; just transition of the workforce and the creation of decent work and quality jobs; and next steps for advancing work.

During COP 22, the Moroccan Presidency is organizing a related high-level event on a sustainable economic transition and economic diversification, scheduled to take place on 15 November 2016. The event is expected to raise awareness of the importance of economic diversification and transformation in relation to the impact of response measures and of the linkages to sustainable development for many developing countries, according to a joint Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)/UNFCCC press release.

The issue of response measures is closely tied to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in that efforts under SDG 13 (Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts) must be reconciled with the need to simultaneously achieve SDG 8 (Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all). [Technical Paper on a Just Transition] [Report on the Workshop] [UNFCCC Webpage on Response Measures] [COP 22 Overview Schedule] [OPEC/UNFCCC Press Release]