BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 26. The private sector has enormous potential to promote environmentally friendly technologies and create environmentally sustainable enterprises, the director of the East European and Central Asian office of the International Labor Organization (ILO), Mikhail Pouchkin said during an international conference on "Climate Change and Just Transition: The Role and Actions of Trade Unions",TurkicWorld reports.
According to him, the transition to a sustainable economy is not a choice, but a necessity that stands as a barrier.
"The future of labor, millions of jobs, and the health of our planet depend on the scale of our actions. Our goal is to ensure a level playing field in the transition to sustainability and equity. The International Labor Organization resolution adopted at last year's International Labor Conference underscores the importance of integrating environmental sustainability with social justice, decent work, and poverty eradication," he said.
Pouchkin mentioned that the risks of the present moment need to be recognized.
"The impacts of climate change are already being felt around the world, threatening ecosystems, communities, and economies. Failure to act now jeopardizes people's well-being, exacerbates inequality, and slows progress on the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement. Inaction is far more costly than the investments needed for a sustainable future. Moreover, achieving a just transition requires collective action. Governments, employers, workers, and international organizations have a shared responsibility to do so. States must take the lead by creating an integrated framework that simultaneously addresses climate challenges and encompasses economic, social, and industrial policies. These frameworks should be gender-sensitive and inclusive, adapted to national priorities," he emphasized.
He stressed that it is important to establish cooperation between ministries and agencies at local, regional, and national levels to successfully realize these objectives.
"The private sector has tremendous potential to promote clean technologies and create sustainable businesses. This requires investment in skills development, especially in sectors such as energy, agriculture, and manufacturing. Trade unions play a key role in this process," Pouchkin added.
