NOT FOR PUBLIC DISCLOSURE Solidarity and Just Transition Silesia Declaration Proposal by Poland We, the Heads of State and Government present at the United Nations Climate Change Conference 2018 in Katowice, Reaffirming that Parties to the Paris Agreement on climate change are taking into account the imperatives of a just transition of the workforce and the creation of decent work and quality jobs, in accordance with nationally defined development priorities; Also reaffirming that Paris Agreement emphasizes the intrinsic relationship that climate change actions, responses and impacts have with equitable access to sustainable development and eradication of poverty; Recalling the Decision 1/CP.16 with the shared vision for long-term cooperative action which calls for ensuring a just transition of the workforce that creates decent work and quality jobs; Noting Decision 1/CP.21 and welcoming the work achieved under the auspices of the Subsidiary bodies of the UNFCCC in the context of the work programme of the improved forum on the impact of the implementation of response measures; Emphasizing the importance of International Labour Organization’s “Guidelines for a just transition towards environmentally sustainable economies and societies for all”, and its considerations by Parties while fulfilling their commitments under the Paris Agreement; Highlighting that the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, as well as its Sustainable Development Goals confirm the need to tackle environmental, social and economic problems in a coherent and integrated manner and underlining the importance of Goal 8 as well as of Goal 1; 1. Stress that a just transition of the workforce and the creation of decent work and quality jobs are crucial to ensure public support for long-term emission reductions and climate resilient development, as well as to enable countries to reach the-long term goals of the Paris Agreement and the ultimate objective of the Convention; NOT FOR PUBLIC DISCLOSURE 2. Take note of employment opportunities that the transition to a low-greenhouse gas emission and climate resilient economies have already created, and the potential for the creation of a number of additional jobs as a result of increased ambition; 3. Recognize the challenges for sectors, cities and other subnational authorities highly dependent on fossil fuels and high emitting industries, and the need for national governments to ensure a decent future for workers impacted by the transition to a low greenhouse gas emission and climate resilient economies, while working to ensure sustainable development and community renewal; 4. Also recognize that natural disasters and other exogenous shocks bring devastating effects to vulnerable workers and people living in poverty with limited savings and no social safety net; 5. Emphasise that development measures to make infrastructure climate-resilient and enhance institutional capacity in this respect have the potential to be a source of decent jobs creation while improving resilience, especially in low-lying countries; 6. Reaffirm our commitment to prepare and communicate nationally determined contributions, strive to formulate long-term low greenhouse gas emission and climate resilient development strategies and engage adaptation planning processes and the implementation of actions while taking into account the imperatives of a just transition of the workforce and the creation of decent work and quality jobs at the appropriate governmental level (national, subnational and local) within our respective capacities and in accordance with our nationally defined development priorities; 7. Note the importance of a participatory and representative process of social dialogue involving trade unions and other social partners, as appropriate, to ensure the human and labour rights, high employment rates and wellbeing of workers and their communities, while developing nationally determined contributions, long-term low greenhouse gas emission and climate resilient development strategies and adaptation planning processes; Furthermore, we highlight the importance of developing work programme on the just transition of the workforce and the creation of decent work and quality jobs, within the UNFCCC forum on impact of the implementation of response measures, that would strive to: Gather and analyze experiences from Parties and Observers in supporting workers, cities and other subnational authorities in transition towards a low-greenhouse gas emission and climate resilient economies; NOT FOR PUBLIC DISCLOSURE Promote taking into consideration the issue of just transition of the workforce and the creation of decent work and quality jobs, while preparing and implementing nationally determined contributions, national adaptation plans and long-term low greenhouse gas emission development strategies, as well as within other relevant areas of work under UNFCCC, as appropriate Encouraging the Green Climate Fund, and other entities dealing with climate finance, to support projects aimed at developing low greenhouse gas emission and sustainable economic activities that will create quality jobs in cities and other subnational authorities affected by transition to a low greenhouse gas emission economy; Ensuring that climate action is in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goals 1, 5, 7, 8 and 10; Inviting all relevant United Nations agencies, including International Labour Organization, and international and regional organisations, observer organisations including trade unions, as well as other stakeholders and interested parties to collaborate and implement this Declaration.