- Check against delivery -

Chair, I speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States. The Candidate Countries the Republic of North Macedonia1, Montenegro*, Serbia* and Albania* and the EFTA countries Iceland and Norway, as well as Armenia, align themselves with this statement.

We welcome the document on the role of the ILO in addressing climate change and a just transition for all and underline the assessment of the Office that, after the COVID crisis, the reconstruction of the economic fabric should lay the foundations for environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive production and consumption. The EU is fighting climate change through ambitious policies at home and close cooperation with international partners in the framework of the Paris Agreement. The European Green Deal has put forward an ambitious agenda of actions and proposals to reach climate-neutrality, and the new 2030 Climate Target, including, amongst others, a new industrial policy strategy and circular economy action plan. National Energy and Climate Plans combine decarbonisation and green growth objectives, factoring in social and employment aspects as well as just transition needs.

We consider that just transition mechanisms such as the one set in place in the EU, should address social and economic effects of the transition, focusing on the regions, industries and workers who will face the greatest challenges, ensuring no one is left behind.

The EU has also addressed the need for a green recovery in a fair and inclusive way, with an ambitious Recovery Plan, Next Generation EU, which aims to support recovery efforts, and simultaneously invest in Europe’s green future.

Social dialogue and international cooperation are crucial policy levers in this regard, and vital for ensuring social acceptance and public support for the measures needed to fight climate change.

The EU and its member states therefore very much welcome the ILO´s strong commitment in addressing climate change and a just transition for all, through consultation with social partners. In this respect, occupational safety and health, social protection and skills programmes with environmental objectives, should be a priority for the ILO in the coming years.

We recommend that the ILO step up its efforts in promoting stronger links between environmental regulation and labour policies and legislation, as the 329th GB session requested the DG to promote ratification and implementation of relevant ILO instruments and resolutions and to take into account environmental aspects when elaborating or revising standards.

Climate change should not only be systematically integrated in labour policies and legislation, but also be an integrative part of capacity-building of ILO officials and constituents. It is of utmost importance that they are well prepared to implement a livelihood-centred approach to employment programmes.

We believe that the “2015 ILO Guidelines for a just transition towards environmentally sustainable economies and societies for all” is the appropriate framework for actions and strategies. We also encourage constituents to promote the inclusion of environmental provisions and green clauses in the International framework agreements (IFAs) and collective agreements as well as to develop Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) policies in private companies that integrate well-being at work into strategic social and environmental matrixes. A greener and circular economy means new growth and decent work opportunities.

Attaching great importance to the United Nations Climate Action for Jobs Initiative, we encourage the ILO to continue leading the integration of decent work and just transition within global and multilateral environmental policy, in close collaboration with the Coalition of Social and Political Drivers and the International Advisory Board of this initiative.

Finally, we welcome the steps taken by the Office to reduce carbon emissions and reach climate neutrality. In line with the UN Climate Neutral Strategy, we support that the Office continue improving energy efficiency.

The EU and its Member States always pursue a reduction of the carbon footprint by reducing emissions as a first option. However, if the ILO goal of climate neutrality by 2020 – in the framework of the UN Climate-Neutral Strategy – cannot be achieved otherwise, the EU and its Member States could exceptionally support the purchase of the Adaptation Fund Certified Emission Reduction credits to offset emissions.

Chair, the EU and its Member States encourage the ILO to continue strengthening its important role as a policy reference in linking climate change to social and employment policies through social dialogue and integrated policy planning. We are ready to support the initial decision point but can accept the ASPAG amendment - as subamended by ASPAG itself -as well.

With regard to the employers´ amendments we would like to ask the Office how to proceed. We could agree on some of the employers´ amendments but would like to subamend others. We know that according to the special procedures for this GB, it is not possible to amend later than 48 hours and to subamend later than 24 hours. However, considering the importance to adopt the decision point at this session, we ask the Office for guidance whether we should present our subamendments today or whether we defer the decision to next week.

Thank you, Chair.

*The Republic of North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Albania continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.