The Global Initiative for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (GI-ESCR) works to end social, economic and gender injustice using a human rights approach. For the last two years, GI-ESCR has participated in the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change believing it is a key advocacy space to deliver on its mandate.

The 28^th Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC (COP28) will be held from 30 November to 12 December 2023 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It is expected to be the largest international climate change summit with more than 60,000 delegates from Member states, civil society organizations, trade unions, Indigenous Peoples, industry, international organizations, and other key stakeholders attending. The imperative phase-out of fossil fuels and the just and equitable shift towards a just transition centred on protecting the people and the planet, including the mobilization of unprecedented financial resources to make this transformation possible will be featured as key issues discussed across all main negotiation tracks in the conference.

Jointly with partners, GI-ESCR will be participating and contributing to the discussions at COP28 to advocate for human rights-aligned and gender-just decisions. GI believes that economic, social, and cultural justice cannot be achieved without climate and environmental justice. 

In this COP28, GI has two focus work areas:

1. Just and equitable transition aligned with human rights and gender equality to address power imbalances.
2. Tax policy as a critical tool to bridge gaps in climate finance and shift unsustainable production and consumption patterns.

Just and equitable transition aligned with human rights and gender equality to address power imbalances.

The just transition concept, rooted in the workers’ movement’s struggle to ensure the shift towards renewable energy does not have adverse implications for workers and communities reliant on fossil fuels, is critical to discussing the social justice dimensions of climate action. Today the just transition concept has evolved not only to encompass workers’ rights in the energy sector, but all systemic structural transformations needed to achieve fair and sustainable societies and economies.

GI-ESCR stands in solidarity with the international workers’ movement to safeguard workers’ rights aligned with the original purpose of the just transition concept, while supporting systemic change based on all internationally recognised human rights and gender equality principles. The organization recognises that the international human rights framework provides a critical roadmap to guide and ground the priorities of a just transition and tackle the power imbalances that are cause and consequence of economic, social, and environmental injustice.

At COP28, GI will advocate for the integration of human rights and gender equality to achieve an ambitious and comprehensive Just Transition Work Programme. GI will follow up on negotiations to contribute to efforts to ensure the wide participation of civil society and communities at the frontlines of the transition. GI will advocate a Just Transition work program that can deliver better conditions of well-being within the boundaries of the planet.

Tax policy as a critical tool to bridge gaps in climate finance and shift unsustainable production and consumption patterns.

A just transition requires unprecedented mobilization of resources and profound changes in production and sustainable practices. To address these challenges, international cooperation on tax policy can and should play a critical role. Tax policy in this context can achieve a two-fold purpose: 1) pricing the impacts of greenhouse gases and other polluting and extractive industries as means to discourage unsustainable practices, and 2) creating revenue and mobilising resources from the biggest polluters to invest in effective climate action.

GI-ESCR believes that tax policy is one of the missing links in climate change discussions. At COP28 it will be working jointly with partners to place tax policy in the conversation and in different work streams of the UNFCCC climate negotiations. GI will share tools on tax policy to connect the climate movement with the tax justice movement and explore opportunities to join forces to deliver a just transition aligned with human rights and gender equality principles.

Contact persons.

To answer questions, explore opportunities for collaboration, and coordinate with media please contact the following GI-ESCR team members who are following COP28 negotiations in person and remotely.

Vicente Silva at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Alejandra Lozano at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Magdalena Rochi at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.