ISTANBUL (ILO News) - The Issue-based Coalition on Environment and Climate Change regional workshop was realized in Istanbul on 12-14 September with the participation of the representatives from ILO, FAO, IOM, ITU, OHCHR, UN Habitat, UN Women, UNDP, UNDRR, UNECE, UNEP, UNESCO, UNFCCC, UNICEF, UNOPS, WFP, WHO, WMO aiming;

• to examine challenges and opportunities in the seven areas such as joint programming, climate change and energy, air pollution, water including transboundary cooperation, early warning systems for all, biodiversity, just transitions towards environmentally sustainable economies and societies for all
• to strengthen capacities of the RCOs and UNCTs in effectively integrating climate change, pollution, biodiversity and just transition, as well as other key environmental priorities in the UN country programming and to foster learning and regional exchange.

At the meeting it was agreed that the ‘joint programmes are the answer to a specific need for more coherent, cross-sectoral approaches – this has never been more urgent than under the 2030 Agenda due to;

• Interconnected nature of environmental & climate challenges.
• Significantly upgrading the impact of the UN development system
•  Reducing duplication, including through greater visibility over UN assets and capacities
• Reducing the burden on national governments of multiple UN entities seeking to assist them
• Reducing the burden on donors by offering a more coherent funding space
• Increasing efficiencies by reducing overlaps, resources spent on them and, separate admin processes

The first day of the Workshop has covered environment and climate change, environment and energy and air pollution issues on global and regional levels, exchanging experiences and good practices on joint programming at the country level.

The second day of the Workshop was opened with water and the transboundary cooperation continued with early warning systems and biodiversity, and ILO represented successful implementations on green activities in Mongolia’s tourism sector by fostering community-based eco and cultural tourism under The Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE) by additionally streaming nature-based solutions and just transitions: decent work in nature-based solutions in Mongolia video during the workshop and it is closed by q&a, and discussion.

The last day of the workshop covered just transitions towards environmentally sustainable economies and societies for all where ILO’s intervention took lots of attention that Cristina Martinez (Senior Specialist, Lead Enterprise Development and Green Jobs-Just Transition, ILO Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia/ DWT Eastern Europe & Central Asia) and Hongye Pei (International Consultant for Green Jobs and Just Transition, ILO Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia) joined the workshop as panelists. It was followed by ILO Office for Türkiye’s presentation regarding the successful practice on green jobs in Türkiye under the Supporting Resilience and Social Cohesion with Decent Livelihood Opportunities Project which was funded by PRM, U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Population, Refugee and Migration, and continued with the Knowledge Café where participants had the opportunity to share good practices and know-how on the Project.

About the Green Jobs Initiative

The Green Jobs Initiative of the ILO encourages governments, employers and workers to develop policy tools to achieve an environmentally sustainable development process alongside decent jobs. Green jobs are defined as economically viable employment that reduces environmental impacts to sustainable levels.

About The United Nations Inter-Agency Issue-Based Coalition (IBC)

The United Nations Inter-Agency Issue-Based Coalition (IBC) on Environment and Climate Change for Europe and Central Asia was established in March 2020, consisting of 18 members from the UN family. It serves as a regional UN platform supporting UN Country Teams through knowledge and policies on environment and climate change to help catalyze Member States’ action towards the 2030 Agenda.