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1. What is the Paris Agreement on Climate Change?
Under the influence of climate change, a reality of the 21st century, and the crisis it causes, an increasing number of countries are paying a high price and facing increasingly severe consequences, such as global warming, infectious diseases, and pandemics. There is no doubt that the main cause of climate change is human influence, and the technical and technological development of humanity requires an enormously increased consumption of energy, which is mostly based on the use of fossil fuels, coal, oil and gas. The combustion of fossil fuels, primarily carbon dioxide and methane, results in the emission of greenhouse gases that act in a way that traps solar heat in the atmosphere and increases temperatures on the Earth's surface.
A total of 195 countries committed to creating urgent measures to act quickly and effectively to protect our planet and to take action to eliminate harmful actions and change their consumption practices by signing the Paris Agreement, in which they pledged the following:
• to hold the increase in global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels, pursuing efforts to limit the increase to 1.5°C;
• to take measures to reduce national greenhouse gas emissions and to adapt to climate change; and
• to initiate a just transition to combat climate change, to develop decent work and quality jobs in line with nationally determined development priorities.
Without these drastic measures, the world risks exceeding the so-called “tipping points” that could cause irreversible changes in the climate system, which is why the Paris Agreement was concluded.
The Paris Agreement on Climate Change, or Paris Climate Agreement, is a legally binding international agreement on climate change. It was adopted by 195 countries at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP21) in Paris, France, on 12 December 2015, and officially entered into force on 4 November 2016. and as an agreement has the main goal of mitigating, adapting to and financing climate change.
Since 2020, countries that have adopted this Agreement have been submitting their national climate action plans, known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). In their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), each country communicates the actions it will take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at the national level and the actions it will take to build resilience and successfully adapt to climate change, all to achieve the main goals of the Paris Agreement.
2. Is the Paris Agreement on Climate Change also our reality or not?
As a result of the Paris Agreement, regions in which extensive exploitation of coal is carried out around the world have faced a new reality that did not exist before, which is that urgent measures need to be taken to close coal-fired power plants, ensure the transition to low-carbon technologies and take actions to increase the energy efficiency of each country.
The Republic of North Macedonia officially ratified the Paris Agreement in November 2017, and under the influence of the European Green Deal, which provides for a European Green Agenda, the countries of the Western Balkans, as a region that could not remain aloof from all these European policies and world developments, signed a Green Agenda Declaration at a summit held in Sofia in 2020, committing to phase out coal and become climate neutral by 2050.
This means that the countries of the Western Balkans, including our country, will need to quickly find solutions to reorient themselves towards the use of renewable energy sources and drastically reduce the effect of greenhouse gas emissions. All of this is assessed as a serious challenge if we take into account that the energy sector is responsible for the majority of greenhouse gas emissions, and it is precisely in the countries of the Western Balkans that coal and oil are the main sources of energy.
To this end, our region needs to ensure a transition to decarbonization, and a just transition is a key aspect in this process, where all countries will aim to switch from the use of coal to the use of renewable energy sources, sun, wind, and thus the Western Balkan region can make a serious contribution to the overall European flows for the implementation of the European Green Plan. The world today cannot afford the existence of industries that use carbon intensively and, to this end, regions that are rich in coal and lignite must deal with the challenge called a just transition.
3. What is Just Transition?
Just transition means a path of unification of social and climate justice, i.e. a term that describes the transition to a decarbonized - climate low-carbon economy that, on the one hand, will ensure the maximization of the benefits of climate activities to reduce the consequences of climate change, while at the same time minimizing the difficulties for workers and their communities who will undoubtedly suffer changes in the current way of living and running their economy.
Just transition is a model of redevelopment, not a model of destruction of the current living and functioning of regional, and thus undoubtedly national economies, and above all, it is a model that is based on locally designed public policies that should create quality jobs and a dignified life for all employees and all communities involved in the process of decarbonization of their economy, which will lead to people more easily understanding, accepting and supporting the just transition.
Human influence appears to be the main cause of serious climate change, but even now, it is precisely human influence that we will need to implement a successful,l just transition and decarbonization of our economy.
4. What are the national strategies and policies for implementing the Paris Agreement on Climate Change?
The Republic of North Macedonia ratified the Paris Agreement in November 2017 and, following the example of developed European countries, our country has focused its national strategies and policies for implementing the Paris Agreement on energy transition, energy efficiency and environmental protection.
Thus, according to the Energy Development Strategy until 2040 of the Government of the Republic of North Macedonia, it is planned to reduce energy consumption by 27% and increase the share of renewable energy sources from the current 18% to 45%. In addition, the Republic of North Macedonia is the first country in the region to develop a National Energy and Climate Plan that covers decarbonization, energy efficiency, security of energy supply, internal energy market and research, innovation and competitiveness.
The energy transition was also announced, which will encourage the reduction of greenhouse gases, the closure of thermal power plants in the country, the construction of new hydropower plants, gas power plants and increased investments in the construction of photovoltaic power plants, and our policy particularly emphasizes that the gasification of Macedonia is another key moment for the desired energy transition.
According to the Paris Agreement, the signatory states of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change agreed to provide information on their nationally determined contributions that relate to the goals of the agreement: Keeping the increase in global average temperature below 2°C above pre-industrial levels, striving to limit the increase to 1.5°C, hence our country, through the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning, submitted its determined national contributions in August 2015, which were last revised in 2021.
According to the 2015 Nationally Determined Contributions, it was envisaged to achieve in 2030: a reduction in emissions by 30%, or by 36% at a higher level of ambition, compared to the reference scenario, and according to the Revised Nationally Determined Contribution to the Paris Agreement as a contribution to global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions: In 2030, a 51% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to 1990 emissions or expressed in net emissions, an 82% reduction in 2030 compared to 1990, and of course the ultimate goal is dedicated to achieving climate neutrality by 2050 - which is the core goal of the European Green Deal.
However, despite the above, there is undoubtedly a low level of information on how many of these national strategies and policies have been fulfilled, at least so far. The latest information that has been made public dates back to December 2024, when, at the meeting of the Just Transition Council, without the presence and participation of the social partners, several important points were discussed and adopted, such as:
-Approval of the Annual Plan for the Implementation of the Just Transition for 2025
-Management structure for the Just Transition
-Report on the implemented activities and next steps., But more detailed information, analyses and statistical data from these documents and a realistic view of everything that has been implemented so far and what is planned to be implemented in the future in our country, were not published in more detail to the public, nor shared in any way with its citizens, of course, by the policy makers. The Federation of Trade Unions of Macedonia (SSM) maintains its position that anything that means state policy, national strategy or any official document dedicated to the just transition that will need to be implemented should be adopted through social dialogue with the active participation of all social partners and the support and expertise of the non-governmental sector, experts and the general public.
5. Which areas and sectors are most affected in our country?
Of course, the sectors most affected by the just transition process in our country are the energy sector, the agro-sector, construction and transport, consistently following the example of all European countries. There is no doubt that starting from the local level and reaching national government policies, these are the sectors that will undergo the greatest changes and to which all future measures, activities, and policies should be directed, but they must be agreed upon by all stakeholders.
A just transition requires cooperation between employers, unions, governments and local communities whose common goal is to plan and implement the transition of their economy, sector and company towards low-carbon, socially and environmentally sustainable activities. That is why branch unions coming from these sectors will have a huge role and it will be necessary to try to find solutions to many challenges that will arise throughout the process of just transition, because undoubtedly the workers who are union members of these branch unions will be faced with changes for which they will need not only state support but also support and a clear policy of action of the unions in which they are members.
6. Does a just transition mean a process of change and cooperation that should start at the local level?
In order to be successful, a just transition must be implemented according to a “bottom-up” approach, which of course, means that this process starts from and with the needs of local communities. Hence, people who are in leading positions in regions and local governments as policy makers and implementers play a key role in a just transition for several reasons, such as the fact that they confirm the legitimacy of the process, represent the interests of citizens, are people who have the tools to implement the measures agreed within the community, and who also have access to experts from different fields. All participants in the just transition process must be equally considered as policy and decision makers, have a common vision, and, in particular, it should be made clear that everyone has an equally important role in implementing the agreement already concluded for the process. The seriousness of the challenges that will follow us also requires the involvement and integrated action of all institutions in the country, social partners, civil and professional public that will monitor the implementation of the planned measures and activities of the Government and local authorities, and that will intervene when there is a need for such a thing. The just transition is a serious challenge for the entire society, but it is undoubtedly that it is the local communities and their residents who are the most affected in the decarbonization processes and they are the ones who need the most support and protection. For our country, it is important to carefully plan the role of the communities in the regions of transformation, the regions whose economy relies on coal mining; that is, an answer must be given to the question of what will happen to all workers and the work processes in REK Bitola, TPP Oslomej, and TPP Negotino.
Regional trade union representatives have a huge role in creating local policies, and here, undoubtedly, also local policies that relate to the just transition. Through its regional offices, SSM has access to workers from different regions in our country and through its actions, it is SSM that ensures that state policies are properly targeted precisely at those regions and workers who need them most, because only then will workers accept that such changes are necessary, but they will also know that throughout the entire process they will not be left alone and without the support of their unions. Also, at the local level in the municipalities where SSM has been established, it participates in the local economic and social councils (LESC) where specific policies and measures can be proposed at the local and regional level, specific and realistic activities can be planned, and the voice of workers, their demands and expectations can be heard directly before local authorities and local representatives of employers.
The Federation of Trade Unions of Macedonia, as the largest union in our country, is the only one that has regional representative offices spread across a large number of local communities, and information about them can be found on our official website: https://ssm.org.mk/mk/kontakt;.
7. How can social dialogue guide the Just Transition process?
Greater involvement and improvement of communication and cooperation between the Government, social partners and the civil society, especially since trade unions and the business community have the potential and capacities for expertise that can complement government measures and activities towards the sustainable development of the country, is the right path through which the Just Transition process should be guided.
There is no just transition without protected workers' rights and without the participation of trade unions!...
The necessary need for development and transition to renewable energy will enable the preservation of the environment as a condition for the survival of future generations, but will also lead to changes in the working process and working conditions. For these reasons, it is clear that as the state should undertake activities to adjust the economy, it should equally devote itself to the organisation of labour and work so that these changes do not lead to job losses, which are of importance for both the life and health of workers. This is where the huge and significant role of trade unions in this process comes into play. Through social dialogue, the participation of trade unions in creating policies for sustainable development in the world of work and labour will be enabled. No government can successfully plan and implement a single policy on its own, especially in this case, when that policy will undoubtedly mean a change in the lives of thousands of citizens, thousands of workers and thousands of union members. Therefore, trade unions are obliged not only to vigilantly monitor the implementation of the just transition, but also to take an active part in it, because it is in the interest of all workers and citizens that these plans are fully and with the foreseen good dynamics realised, so that we can ensure survival, development and security for future generations.
Social dialogue and tripartism must be the basis and starting point for a successful just transition and be at the centre of policies for strong, sustainable and inclusive development. So, the need for joint action of all stakeholders through the national Economic and Social Council (ESC) and also through the local Economic and Social Councils (LESC) is clearly highlighted, where specific activities can be planned at the local and regional level to preserve jobs and to take full care of the protection of workers' rights and livelihoods. Therefore, the just transition process should undoubtedly be part of the annual program of the ESC for 2026, and the trade unions for change should be invited to participate in the newly established bodies and working groups, such as the Just Transition Council, the Energy Council and the Climate Change Council, which must undoubtedly function at a tripartite level. Social dialogue is key to overcoming the challenges that arise during the transition of economies towards decarbonization, with the aim of ensuring the achievement of fair results and the fulfilment of the interests of all stakeholders, i.e. the fulfilment of the interests of workers, enterprises, communities and future generations who undoubtedly deserve a life in a healthy and green environment.
8. What is the role and significance of trade unions in the Just Transition processes?
The trade union, as a representative of workers and protector of workers' rights, has a huge role in this process, taking care of the realisation, protection and advancement of workers' rights, but having a real awareness of the need and necessity of increasing production capacities in the country and fulfilling the obligations that our country undertakes with the Paris Agreement. The construction of new production capacities is a necessary need, but an assessment of what the impact on the environment will be is just as necessary. As representatives of workers, trade unions aim to ensure the provision of economic and social security and stability for workers, but also care for a healthy and safe environment as something that is necessary for current and future generations.
Trade union education for a just transition will help in this process, because it is undeniable that workers feel that unions are much more like their own because unions are legitimate representatives of workers, as opposed to representatives of governments and employers. Having confidence in their union representatives will enable unions to increase education for a just transition among their members through union activities and thus more easily pave the way for its successful implementation and realisation of a transition that will be accepted and supported by the workers who are most affected. Of course, unions will always act in the direction of emphasizing the social security of the Macedonian worker, will strive to avoid job losses, and through the processes of providing training, qualifications, retraining and additional qualifications, to enable the workers who are most affected to be active again in the labor market and to continue to be employed, but now in green jobs or jobs at the local and national level that the state will have to provide for them. Of course, the provision of training, qualifications, and retraining will undoubtedly require a clear state policy and state support in the processes of just transition within the framework of pre-determined program flows that will be agreed with all social partners and enabled by subsidies and financial assistance from the state.
9. Can collective bargaining be a successful trade union tool in just transition processes?
Collective agreements and the process of concluding them can be very important for just transition processes. As one of the most important trade union tools that should be given the most attention in the future, collective agreements and all the positive changes they can bring must be used in the implementation of this process. There is no doubt that within the framework of just transition, greater emphasis should be placed on collective agreements through negotiations at the sectoral and enterprise level, because it is precisely such agreements that can play a key role in anticipating and mitigating the major risks of the transition - including job losses, the need for qualifications, upskilling and reskilling, strengthening occupational safety and health and social protection for workers directly and indirectly affected by the transitions. Again, all processes should start from the lowest level, i.e. from negotiations at the enterprise level. Incorporating the just transition into collective agreements will mean a joint struggle of social partners in taking measures that will clarify the future steps of enterprises towards their successful operation, but with activities that will mean preserving the environment on the one hand, but also ensuring social security for every worker who is undoubtedly an inseparable and significant part of the work process of every employer on the other hand.
10. Can trade union education be a guide for a just transition?
Trade union education, with its organisation and proper application, can be a guide for the successful implementation of a just transition and thus serve as a good help to the Government in implementing the obligations undertaken by the Paris Agreement. Any change leads to uncertainty in the existence of every worker, but this uncertainty can be reduced or even completely disappear if workers are sure that their representatives, i.e. trade unions, are included and are an equally important part of the process of the just transition itself. The just transition presented by trade union representatives within the trade union organisations to their trade union members will allow all fears and challenges faced by workers to be heard and all unknowns to be resolved through training processes. Only through educated workers who will clearly understand the process, state policies dedicated to it, and workers who will be aware of their rights and will be part of their trade union organizations, will it be possible to ensure the successful implementation of the goals of the just transition, but without violating workers' rights and without putting into question the life and work of Macedonian workers, their social security and livelihood as well as the livelihood of their families. No work process at the enterprise level, no work process at the sector level, and no national policy, or even a world policy that undoubtedly affects and will have an impact on the labour market, among other things, will be able to be successfully implemented without protected workers and realised workers' rights.
11. What can SSM do for you through the just transition process?
The Federation of Trade Unions of Macedonia (SSM), through its branch unions affiliated with SSM, through its regional offices spread across the territory of our country, through its trade union organizations in the public and private sectors, as well as through its legal service, is at the disposal of all Macedonian workers for all issues and problems that concern them, including those regarding the just transition as a future process that will undoubtedly have to be implemented to ensure a healthy environment and future for all generations to come, and a process that will bring changes in the field of labor.
Trade unions are FOR a green future, but not at the cost of the workers' livelihood and at the cost of violating their rights and their social security.
The union can provide you with:
Free legal assistance and legal advice
Reporting a violation of the just transition process or a violation of your workers' rights to the appropriate institutions
Union education for just transition
Guidelines for future action in the just transition process
Connection with trade union organisations and trade union representatives from your branch or sector facing the just transition
Opportunity for training, qualifications, requalifications and acquiring new skills
Opportunity for your proposals to be part of the SSM's just transition policies
Digital connection with your union
12. How can SSM help you in the process of just transition through the digital application SSM – My Workers' Rights?
SSM - my workers' rights ( https://ssm.org.mk/mk/nova-aplikacija-ssm-moi-rabotnichki-prava ) is a mobile application that allows workers and citizens to report violations of workers' rights to the Federation of Trade Unions of Macedonia using their mobile phones.
The application offers the opportunity to:
-Report a violation of rights for yourself and another person
- Anonymous reporting
- Direct communication with SSM representatives
- Follow news and advice from SSM
SSM – My workers' rights is a digital tool that is also included in the process of just transition, and especially in the area of providing social security to all affected workers. Workers can report violations of their workers' rights and through the processes of the just transition, they can more easily connect with their union and union representatives, as well as they can report through our application when a national or local policy dedicated to the just transition is implemented in a way that violates workers' rights or is implemented without taking into account workers and their needs.
Workers' reports will provide an opportunity for SCM as a participant in the social dialogue with policymakers and through cooperation with inspection bodies to ensure not only that the voice of workers is heard, but also to ensure direct action by bodies that will have to react and stop this incorrect implementation of state policies dedicated to the just transition. The SSM e-advisor for workers' rights is also available to all workers when it comes to providing necessary information and providing legal advice on everything that means implementing processes and undertaking activities that are part of the just transition of our country.
*This activity is supported by the Project - Promoting Social Dialogue on Just Transition Issues in North Macedonia and Montenegro
