Communities around the world are pushing back against renewable energy projects that fail to deliver direct benefits, leading to protests and cancellations in various countries. The challenge now is to ensure that new investments in renewable energy serve local people first and avoid replicating past mistakes. A Just Transition mechanism is being called for at COP30 to address barriers hindering renewable energy development in developing countries, aiming to unlock public finance for worker upskilling and community-led renewable systems. Fair and people-centered renewable energy projects are emerging globally, highlighting the importance of equity in the transition to clean energy. A global just transition mechanism could scale up these efforts and ensure that decarbonization is equitable and accessible to all.
Author: Climatechangenews
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For Indian women workers, a just transition means surviving climate impacts with dignity
SEWA, a women-led organization, focuses on a just transition by prioritizing resilience for poor women facing climate shocks like heatwaves and floods. With 3.2 million informal workers, SEWA fights for rights and recognition for women on the frontlines, as more than 90% of women workers report livelihood losses from climate shocks. Their initiatives, such as a heat insurance scheme and Livelihood Recovery & Resilience Fund, provide fast relief for women impacted by climate change. SEWA has partnered with the Clinton Global Initiative to launch the Global Climate Resilience Facility (GCRF) to support women's organizations in running funds, expanding insurance, and scaling clean-energy solutions. The article emphasizes the importance of finance in implementing climate solutions, particularly for women in vulnerable communities, and highlights the effectiveness of women-led initiatives in designing and scaling climate solutions. The Belém Action Mechanism is proposed as a way to bridge the gap in funding and support for grassroots initiatives, showing that the transition to a more sustainable future has already begun for many women like SEWA's members.