Why social protection is essential to shield the most vulnerable from the climate crisis

A newly released ILO report on social protection, climate change and just transition, shows that populations in twenty countries who are on the frontlines of the climate crisis and who are in most need for social protection, do not have access to a single social protection benefit such as health coverage, emergency payments, and child benefits. The report also shows how important government initiatives for retraining and upskilling are to galvanize support for workers who are transitioning out of fossil fuel sectors.

What do these findings mean for the most climate-vulnerable countries, and what can governments, workers and employers’ organizations do to expand social protection coverage, reduce global inequalities, and protect the most vulnerable as we continue to face the climate crisis?