By Joan Nwagwu
The Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU), Kenya, has urged African trade unions to strengthen partnerships and advocacy for climate finance, technology transfer, and debt cancellation ahead of COP30 in Brazil.
COTU Climate Change Specialist, Ms Rebecca Okello, gave the advice during the ongoing three-day Pre-COP30 Synthesis and Regional Strategy Review Session on Thursday in Keffi, Nasarawa State.
The event was organised by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in collaboration with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to engage stakeholders on Nigeria’s climate transition strategy.
Okello said that without adequate funding, technology, and capacity building, Africa’s just transition agenda would remain aspirational.
“Finance must support skills training, social protection, and job creation,” she said.
She said that developing countries needed grants, not loans, to overcome climate challenges, adding that climate finance should uplift workers and communities, not deepen poverty.
Okello called for the inclusion of trade unions in national climate councils to ensure labour participation in policy-making for the green economy.
Mr Bert De-Wel, Climate Specialist, International Trade Union Congress (ITUC), Brussels, also advocated fair access to public finance for developing nations to support a just and inclusive climate transition.
He said such partnerships and equitable financing mechanisms would promote fairness, bridge inequalities, and accelerate a sustainable global economy.
Also, Ms Boitumelo Molete, a representative of Congress of South African Trade Union (COSATU) commended NLC for the passion in ensuring that the voice of workers are heard at the forthcoming COP30 in Brazil.
She urged the trade unions to ensure that the issues of climate change policies, as they affect job security, health, and livelihoods among others will play major part of the NLC demands at COP30.
