Ss22-04 a Just Climate Transition for Workers: Reconciliating Labour Rights and Environmental Protection

Introduction The transition to a low-carbon economy will involve radical social and economic transformations, which will have significant impacts on workers. The notion of a ‘just transition’ takes a human rights-based approach to reconcile environmental and social concerns, by emphasizing that the benefits of climate action should be shared, and that those bearing the costs should be supported. However, it is currently less understood how international labour and human rights are used to challenge measures designed to fight climate change. This research explores the role of occupational health and safety in climate change litigation. Materials and Methods This study implements a documentary analysis of human rights-based climate litigation cases. Data was collected from two sources: the Climate Change Litigation Databases by the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law, and the Climate and Human Rights Litigation Database by the University of Zurich. Results Rights-based climate litigation or “just transition litigation” does not oppose to climate action. It rather challenges the way in which climate solutions are implemented and their impact on the enjoyment of labour and human rights. Good governance of climate solutions will require active workers’ participation. Conclusions The adoption of a rights-based approach to climate change mitigation and adaptation initiatives could reconcile occupational health and safety with environmental and ecological issues. This alignment will support the realisation of a safe and healthy working environment as recognised in 2022 by the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.