A just transition: empowering inclusive climate action for the Caribbean

The aim of this session is to advance thought leadership on the critical issue of a Just Transition. The webinar will empower the audience with information to help our islands move ahead of the curve toward a greener economy that will redound to the benefit of all citizens.

Speakers:

• Kristin Qui, Climate Diplomacy Advisor
• Carlon Mendoza, Climate Policy Advisor
• Ezra Christopher, Senior Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Department of Environment, Antigua and Barbuda
• Christine Samwaroo, Founder of the Breadfruit Collective, gender and environmental justice NGO in Guyana.
  

During the session, Ms. Christopher highlighted the following key pillars of Antigua and Barbuda’s just transition advancement:

• Seek to drive the transformation of sectors and creation of jobs,
  
• Build the entrepreneurial capacity of women, youth, and micro, small and medium enterprises,
  
• Provide education, training, and certification programmes for the workforce in mitigation and adaptation technologies,
  
• Develop and integrate specialist programmes into existing educational institutions,
  
• Involve multi-stakeholder consultations and social dialogues,
  
• Promote economic diversification by providing new and innovative job opportunities,
  
• Encourage participation of both men and women in just transition initiatives, and
  
• Establish a Just Transition Framework for monitoring, and reporting on progress of the transition process.
  

Mr. Mendoza shed light on the seminal Just Transition Work Programme which was agreed at the international climate change summit, COP28, noting this is a prime opportunity for a focus to be placed on how small island developing states (SIDS) will be impacted through the global just transition.

“Antigua and Barbuda has already started thinking about just transition and how that will flow into policy. Along with the ratification of Escazú Agreement, this just transition work programme can provide a setting point and guidance. The decisions taken at the international level are agreed by consensus and will inform countries’ policies and legislation. This facilitates a holistic approach to ensure no one is left behind.”

Watch a recording of the event: