Climate Ambition and Decent Work: FES Ethiopia and CETU Convene High-Level Dialogue on Just Transition

As Ethiopia accelerates its transition toward a green economy, a critical question remains at the forefront of the national development discourse: How do we ensure that the country’s workforce is not left behind?

To address this urgent intersection of environmental ambition and labor rights, FES Ethiopia, in partnership with the Confederation of Ethiopian Trade Unions (CETU), convened a High-Level Roundtable in Addis Ababa. The forum brought together representatives from trade unions and sectoral trade union federations, government ministries, and civil society organizations. 

NDC 3.0 and the Labor Shock

The discussion opened with a look at Ethiopia's new Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC 3.0), meaning Ethiopia’s climate actions to the global goal of addressing climate change. Ethiopia’s plan sets an ambitious goal to cut national carbon emissions by over 70% by 2035.

While these green goals are excellent news for the planet, independent policy expert Eskedar Awgichew Ergete pointed out that they will bring massive disruptions to everyday workers:

• The Electric Vehicle Transition: Ethiopia made global headlines by banning the import of gas-powered passenger cars. The green plan aims to put 500,000 electric vehicles (EVs) on the road in the coming years. But because electric cars have significantly fewer moving parts than traditional engines, thousands of local mechanics, drivers, and spare-parts workers could lose their livelihoods overnight if the government doesn't fund retraining programs.

• The Farming Paradox: To protect agriculture from extreme weather like severe droughts and floods, the government wants to modernize farming by introducing over 130,000 tractors. However, this introduces a paradox: while modern tools are needed, they risk displacing thousands of manual laborers who have no other way to make a living.

Currently, Ethiopia's climate plan lacks a dedicated social protection or a formal way for workers to voice their concerns.

Letters Sent, Voices Unheard 

Representing millions of Ethiopian workers, the trade unions revealed that their voices were not heard. Before the government finalized its NDC 3.0, unions sent an official letter to the planning ministry with their demands. They asked for clear workplace safety protections against climate hazards (like extreme heat), green job creation, and robust retraining programs.

Unfortunately, the government submitted the final plan to the United Nations without responding to the unions or including their ideas. Attendees noted that, historically, the people who design climate policies and the people who protect workers rarely sit at the same table.

Who Should Lead the Transition? 

A major debate emerged about which government department should take the lead on protecting workers during this green shift. Some argued that the F.D.R.E. Ministry of Planning and Development should lead because they handle the budget and economic strategies.

However, union leaders and labor officials strongly disagreed. They argued that a planning ministry's main job is to grow the economy quickly, which can create a conflict of interest when it comes to enforcing worker protections.

Instead, participants argued that the Ministry of Labor and Skills is much better suited to lead. This ministry already has established, healthy relationships with both employers and trade unions, making it uniquely ready to run practical retraining and protection programs.

Challenges Within the Labor Movement

The conversation wasn't just about pointing fingers. It also included some honest self-reflection from the trade unions. Labor leaders openly admitted that they face an internal knowledge gap. International and national climate policies are complex, and many local union organizers and members don't fully understand how these green policies will impact their daily lives.

To advocate with evidence, unions realize they need better training and localized data. International partners at the event challenged the unions to move from verbal complaints to structural action by setting up a dedicated "Climate and Just Transition" department within their organization.

The Way Forward

The roundtable concluded with a shared commitment to advancing a worker-centered approach to climate action in Ethiopia. Participants identified five priority actions:

1. Ensure formal representation of the Ministry of Labor and Skills and organized labor within national climate governance structures.
2. Future policy research and interventions will expand beyond transport and agriculture to explicitly include the manufacturing and construction sectors.
3. Establish financing mechanisms for worker reskilling, upskilling, and social protection measures.
4. Integrate occupational health and safety considerations into climate adaptation and reporting frameworks.
5. Strengthen the capacity of trade unions to engage in climate policy discussions through targeted training, research, and advocacy programs.

The discussions demonstrated growing recognition among labor, government, and civil society actors that climate action and social protection are not competing priorities. Rather, a successful transition will depend on ensuring that workers, communities, and vulnerable groups are active participants and beneficiaries of Ethiopia’s green transformation.