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UASA welcomes Pres. Cyril Ramaphosa’s signing of the Climate Change Bill into law as the Presidential Climate Commission (PCC) Labour Capacity Building Workshop is underway in Randburg, Johannesburg.

The new Act is set to enhance and build climate resilience while reducing the risk of job losses and promoting new job opportunities in the emerging green economy.

The Act is the first piece of legislation specifically set to address climate change challenges in the country by setting a national response, including labour and stakeholders.

The Presidency stated that the Act enables the alignment of policies that influence South Africa’s climate change response to ensure that South Africa’s transition to a low-carbon and climate-resilient economy and society is not constrained by policy contradictions.

During the Labour Capacity Building Workshop, Fedusa appointed PCC commissioner and Vice president of Fedusa Jacques Hugo reflected on definite challenges that climate change poses on labour, including the experiences of workers as South Africa transitions to a low-carbon economy, and factors that are necessary for the Just Transition to better support workers.

UASA, as part of organised labour, has been actively involved in addressing climate change and the Just Transition framework through its affiliation with FEDUSA, a labour participant of the PCC.

With the new Act passed, UASA is proud of FEDUSA for adopting its Climate Change Policy in 2021 and the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) Just Transition Centre (JTC) for being awarded the 2024 WIN WIN Gothenburg Sustainability Award in recognition of its support for workers’ rights in the global shift towards an environmentally and socially sustainable future.

The two-day workshop brings together the PCC, labour and stakeholders to address climate change challenges and the Just Transition context on the labour landscape in the country and globally.

Issued by UASA spokesperson Abigail Moyo