COP29: Discussions on a fair transition in the labor market towards a green economy have continued

As part of COP29 held in our country, the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Population and the International Labour Organization (ILO) organized the event titled 'From Theory to Practice for a Fair Transition for All: An Interregional High-Level South-South Political Dialogue.' The event continued today with additional panel sessions.

At the opening of the sessions, Rie Vejs-Kjeldgaard, Director of the ILO's Enterprises Department and member of the Board of the Green Economy Partnership, Elmar Mammadov, Co-Chair of the COP29 Action Agenda Global Initiatives Group, and Manuel Adalberto Carlos Montenegro Lopes da Cruz, the Ambassador of Brazil to our country, delivered speeches.

The importance of the event, which discussed the development of decent green jobs for all and the promotion of circular economy approaches in the green economy transition process, as well as the implementation of ILO Guidelines, was highlighted. The event provided an opportunity for active and effective exchange of experiences.

Panel discussions, attended by high-level officials from various countries, UN, and other international organizations, addressed the transition to green energy in coal mining regions, as well as in the Asia-Pacific region. The promotion of the use of renewable energy sources, the creation of green jobs, and the achievement of gender equality were among the key topics. The current situation and policies in these areas were discussed, and experiences were shared.

At the conclusion of the discussions, Anar Karimov, Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Protection of the Population, delivered a speech highlighting the special importance of expanding cooperation between countries to achieve a fair transition in the labor market towards a green economy. He emphasized Azerbaijan's active policy in ensuring decent work and its ongoing cooperation with the ILO in this area. He also mentioned that, over the past period, Azerbaijan ratified 59 ILO Conventions and 1 Protocol.

The Deputy Minister noted that the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the National Confederation of Entrepreneurs (Employers) Organizations of Azerbaijan, and the Confederation of Trade Unions of Azerbaijan had identified key tasks for a fair transition to a green economy in the framework of the Collective Agreement signed last year.

A. Karimov highlighted the significant steps taken in our country to increase wages and other social payments, the importance of the newly established Occupational Safety Center, and the advantages of the 'Labour and Employment' subsystem. He also provided information on the work being done in the development of green jobs and skills, the implementation of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles, the digital achievements in the areas of labor, employment, and social protection, and the improvements made in labor legislation.

The Deputy Minister emphasized that a fair transition to a green economy serves as a model that combines workers' welfare, economic growth, and environmental protection. He expressed confidence that further expanding cooperation in this direction will yield successful results through joint efforts.