Global South demands system for a fair green transition at Climate talks

BY STEVE EPHRAEM

At the COP30 climate summit in Belém, a major new proposal has been put forward. The G77 group of developing nations, plus China, have jointly called for a new global system to ensure a “just transition.”

This means making sure that climate action, like moving away from fossil fuels, does not harm workers, women, and local communities or push people into poverty.

Teresa Anderson of ActionAid International said the proposal “fires the starting gun on serious negotiations.” She stated that, “It’s now game on for just transition. Countries are finally talking about how to make sure people’s lives get better, not worse.”

According to Anderson, wealthy countries in the Global North seemed surprised by the move. While they agree that climate action should be fair, they appeared reluctant to commit to a formal system that would require significant coordination and financial support.

A recent ActionAid report underscores the issue, finding that only 3% of global climate finance currently supports “just transition” projects.