This toolkit is a guide for policymakers in Colombia to advance a just and inclusive transition to a low-carbon economy.

Ambitious climate action is key to ensuring a liveable future for Colombia’s citizens. Implementing the structural changes necessary to cut emissions, however, can affect individuals and communities. Just transitions seek to manage the shift to a low-carbon and resilient society by bringing together diverse stakeholders to maximise the benefits of climate action and manage the negative impacts for vulnerable communities.

Key recommendations for policymakers include:

• Create a Just Transition Committee in the Intersectoral Commission for Climate Change to bring together diverse ministries and boost synergies across the development agenda.
• Use Colombia’s regional climate change nodes and the regional competitiveness and innovation commissions to identify needs, decentralize the transitions, and support local solutions.
• Create platforms for social dialogues and maintain transparency on time frames, realistic measures, and methodologies.
• Ensure that the sectoral and territorial climate change management plans (PIGCCS and PIGCCT) include just transition indicators and align with national climate policies.
• Promote policies that are low-regret, multi-sectoral and multi-actor. Articulate policies on all levels (national to local) and in diverse contexts (academic, industry, community).
• Remove existing barriers in the labour market to increase flexibility. Key actions include improving social protections, providing re-skilling opportunities, recognising gig workers, and considering vulnerable identities.

The research is part of the South to South Just Transitions initiative.