Bangladesh has incorporated a dedicated Just Transition chapter that includes workers’ and trade union rights in its third Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) plan to be submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
The inclusion comes after persistent advocacy by PSI union members in Bangladesh, working alongside the Just Transition Bangladesh Centre (JTBC) and the International Labour Organization (ILO). Their collaborative efforts convinced the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to incorporate workers’ rights as a central component of the country’s climate action framework.
The new chapter addresses six key demands put forward by the trade unions:
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Decent work and labor rights
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Social protection and social dialogue
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Skills development and occupational health and safety
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Protections for vulnerable workers and small enterprises in carbon-intensive sectors
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Clear pathways to ensure climate action creates decent jobs and reduces poverty
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Social protection measures including unemployment benefits and income support during transition periods
“Encouraging private companies in the energy transition is not enough; renewable energy must be established and owned by the people,” stated Md. Mozibor Rahman, General Secretary of the PSI union Paschimanchal Bidyut Bitaran Sramik Karmachari Union.
A Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) is a plan submitted by countries under the Paris Agreement to outline their commitments to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and addressing climate change. Each country sets its own targets and actions based on national circumstances, aiming to limit global warming to well below 2°C, ideally 1.5°C, above pre-industrial levels. NDCs are updated every five years to reflect increased ambition and progress. They typically include goals for emissions reductions, adaptation measures, and sometimes financial or technological support needs, tailored to the country’s capabilities and priorities.
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is an international treaty established in 1992 to address climate change by promoting global cooperation to limit greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate its impacts. It provides a framework for negotiating agreements like the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement, with nearly 200 countries as parties. The UNFCCC facilitates annual conferences (COPs) where nations discuss climate policies, commitments, and progress, such as the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Its ultimate goal is to stabilize atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations to prevent dangerous climate change.