Toolkit to support policymakers in the process of co-designing just transition commitments and strategies

The document outlines a strategy for Colombia to manage its transition to a low-carbon economy while addressing high levels of poverty, inequality, and labor informality. It identifies the mining and fossil fuel sectors as the most vulnerable, representing 71% of exports and 500,000 formal jobs. The toolkit recommends establishing a Just Transition Committee within the Intersectoral Commission for Climate Change, enhancing social dialogue, and reforming the labor market to support workers' mobility and reskilling. It emphasizes the need for economic diversification in fossil-fuel-dependent regions and the mobilization of financial resources to close a funding gap estimated at 1.04% of GDP annually to meet NDC objectives.

• Colombia's economy is heavily dependent on highly polluting industries, which makes a just transition critical for economic stability. Mining and fossil fuels account for 71% of exports, 7% of GDP, and provide 500,000 formal jobs.
• The Colombian labor market presents significant structural challenges for a just transition, characterized by high informality (estimated between 50% and 60%) and unemployment rates exceeding 10%.
• Climate policy impacts vary by sector; while the energy and transport sectors are expected to lose workers in the short term, the agriculture and livestock sectors may absorb low-skilled workers, potentially leading to a degradation in job quality without intentional policy intervention.
• Colombia faces a substantial financial gap to achieve its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) objectives, estimated at 1.04% of GDP annually.
• To improve governance, the document recommends creating a Just Transition Committee within the Intersectoral Commission for Climate Change (CICC) to coordinate efforts across the Labor, Energy, Commerce, Tourism, and Industry ministries.
• Labor market reforms are necessary to facilitate transition, including redesigning the social protection scheme to remove salary contribution barriers and providing formal recognition to gig economy workers.

APA

García, H. (2023). Toolkit to support policymakers in the process of co-designing just transition commitments and strategies. Climate Strategies. https://climatestrategies.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Toolkit-to-support-policymakers-in-the-process-of-co-designing-just-transition-commitments-and-strategies_Colombia.pdf

Chicago

García, Helena. Toolkit to support policymakers in the process of co-designing just transition commitments and strategies. Climate Strategies, 2023. https://climatestrategies.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Toolkit-to-support-policymakers-in-the-process-of-co-designing-just-transition-commitments-and-strategies_Colombia.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=García |first1=Helena |title=Toolkit to support policymakers in the process of co-designing just transition commitments and strategies |publisher=Climate Strategies |date=2023 |url=https://climatestrategies.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Toolkit-to-support-policymakers-in-the-process-of-co-designing-just-transition-commitments-and-strategies_Colombia.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{garca2023toolkit, author = {García, Helena}, title = {{Toolkit to support policymakers in the process of co-designing just transition commitments and strategies}}, institution = {Climate Strategies}, year = {2023}, url = {https://climatestrategies.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Toolkit-to-support-policymakers-in-the-process-of-co-designing-just-transition-commitments-and-strategies_Colombia.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }