Climate Strategies’ submission to SBSTA and SBI on the UAE Just Transition Work Programme

The document argues that the 2026 JTWP dialogues should be structured around international cooperation, technical assistance, capacity-building, and knowledge sharing to inform the design of the Just Transition Mechanism. Drawing on research from the Global South, it highlights critical gaps in financing for social protection, the risks of extractive dynamics in critical mineral supply chains, and the need for technology co-development rather than simple transfer. It specifically identifies needs for better disaggregated data in countries like Uganda and Kenya, and the risk of 'greening elsewhere' in Indonesia due to coal-powered nickel smelting.

• The 2026 JTWP dialogues should be explicitly organized around the four pillars of the Just Transition Mechanism's mandate: international cooperation, technical assistance, capacity-building, and knowledge sharing, to move beyond general exchanges toward identifying structural barriers and country needs.
• Critical mineral extraction for the energy transition risks repeating historical patterns of extractivism and social exclusion, where local communities bear environmental and health burdens while economic benefits are captured elsewhere.
• In Indonesia, the use of captive coal-fired power plants for nickel smelting risks undermining national decarbonization and creates cross-border justice issues where advanced economies achieve 'greening' at the cost of Indonesian deforestation and ecosystem degradation.
• International climate finance is heavily biased toward infrastructure and mitigation technologies, leaving essential social components—such as reskilling, livelihood restoration, and social protection—with marginal funding.
• Countries in the Global South face significant technical expertise gaps in data and analytical capacity, specifically regarding distributional analysis, social impact modelling for informal sectors, and monitoring systems for non-economic losses.
• Dependence on imported technologies limits the effectiveness of Just Transition measures; for example, Vietnam's reliance on imported renewable components creates supply chain vulnerabilities and currency risks.
• There is a critical need to shift from simple technology transfer to 'co-creation' models and shared intellectual property to ensure technological advancements result in local job creation and ownership.

APA

Climate Strategies (n.d.). Climate Strategies’ submission to SBSTA and SBI on the UAE Just Transition Work Programme. https://climatestrategies.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Climate-Strategies_UNFCCC-JTWP-submission_Feb2026.pdf

Chicago

Climate Strategies. Climate Strategies’ submission to SBSTA and SBI on the UAE Just Transition Work Programme. n.d. https://climatestrategies.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Climate-Strategies_UNFCCC-JTWP-submission_Feb2026.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Climate Strategies |title=Climate Strategies’ submission to SBSTA and SBI on the UAE Just Transition Work Programme |url=https://climatestrategies.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Climate-Strategies_UNFCCC-JTWP-submission_Feb2026.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{climatestrategiesndclimate, author = {{Climate Strategies}}, title = {{Climate Strategies’ submission to SBSTA and SBI on the UAE Just Transition Work Programme}}, publisher = {Climate Strategies}, url = {https://climatestrategies.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Climate-Strategies_UNFCCC-JTWP-submission_Feb2026.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }