Why talk about a just energy transition in the coal value chain?

The Colombian Latin American Case

More and more countries are feeling the urgency to reduce their carbon footprint. State policies are being developed to reduce coal imports. Countries are moving to more environmentally friendly energy sources. But it is the people in the sourcing countries who are prone to experience the severe socio-economic consequences of mine closures from day to day. Colombia is the first case of such an energy transition. Its experiences can serve as a model for many other countries to follow. 

It is the Latin American country with the greatest progress towards the energy transition, according to the World Economic Forum. It also has great potential as a sustainable energy production territory in the regions that are currently coal mining. But the transition has a profound socio-economic impact on the mining region in the north of Colombia.

The climate emergency is a reality in the whole world. Natural disasters, which are the product of the excessive exploitation of natural resources, mean that today we witness the apocalyptic scenario that the pioneers investigating global warming have been warning us about. Just in North America (the United States and Canada) more than 400 people died due to an intense heat wave. It is estimated that at least 70 people lost their livesafter strong floods in Germany and Belgium during the second half of this 2021.   

These disasters, product of a global temperature increase of 1.2 °C, seem to be only the tip of the iceberg of an increase of 2 °C by the middle of the century (year 2050). Thanks to the signing of the Paris Agreement in 2015 measures were established to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In order to  carry out energy transition in industrialized countries, a process was initiated which in the long term promises great benefits. It empowers people, calls them to participate, boosts the economy and diversifies markets.

Labor and environmental legislation

One of the important ‘advantages of the mining and energy sector in regions such as Latin America, are the cost of labor and the lack of environmental legislation. It led to large multinationals establishing their export coal mines in countries as Colombia. The closure of this industry without a transition that considers all the actors in the production chain could have severe impact. It would leave thousands of families without a livelihood. It would destabilize the economies of these countries. It would also ignore the responsibility of companies responsible for environmental damage they caused for several decades. This even generated the displacement of entire communities. 

Large coal reserves

Regarding the international context, Colombia has the largest coal reserves in Latin America. It is the fifth-largest exporter of thermal coal in the world. Colombian coals are basically hard coals (thermal, metallurgical-coking and anthracite). Currently, thermal coal represents 97% of production and exports.

The armed conflict

Besides that, there is a relationship between the armed conflict and the coal mining sector during paramilitary violence in Colombia. In the context of the violent conflict both national and foreign businessmen were able to massively buy parcels for the development of mining-energy projects. The National government granted licenses to multinationals to carry out such purchases and resettle communities. 

This historical process of capital accumulation in this industry is a decisive factor in the increase of inequality in the country. The mining companies have a responsibility for the recovery of the society affected by the violence of the war. A specific part of this responsibility is to ensure stability for the employees who have worked for these mining multinationals many years.

Coal market development

The commitments agreed to in the Paris Agreement entail a decrease in the demand for coal at the international level. This does not mean that the coal market will cease, at least not in the coming years. Nevertheless it does mean that the main coal exporters will have to redirect their market. Due to the decreasing demand they are entering in greater competition. As a consequence selling prices of coal will fall.

Collective energy right

The success of sustainable energy development on a global scale depends on the recognition of responsibility of companies that buy coal, international cooperation and State policies. A structural new approach in the energy sector is required, starting with the recognition of energy as a right. Corporations and the state have the position to generate energy, but  the society in general always has to be involved.

Energy justice

Thus, when we are speaking about energy transition, we must not only refer to the change of energy resources, but also to a just transition that leaves no one behind. The just transition is related to energy justice. It encompasses dimensions of distributive, procedural and recognition justice, and climate justice. It also deals with historical responsibility, per capita equity, and social and environmental rights. 

Reconciliation

The aim of just transition is to reconcile social, economic and environmental aspects. The material conditions of the most vulnerable populations have to be reconciled with the search to maintain the stability of the climate on earth. To achieve this an equitable structure is required, combining capacity transformation plans, new developments in economic activities, special funds for investment in education and social plans for direct and indirect workers.

Social plan

A recent energy transition in the Netherlands started with years of, worker-led struggles. It resulted in a tripartite collective social plan in which the Ministry of Social Affairs agreed to take concrete steps to help coal industry employees who lost their jobs. With a financial injection of € 22 million, all employees of the coal production chain in and around the Hemweg electric power plant in Amsterdam can receive government support. It enables their transition from one job to another and includes training. In addition, other agreements arrange income compensation  for people who are not able to find a new job.

Sustainable Development Agenda

For the transition to be effective, it must be accompanied by social dialogue between the different actors involved in the process, mainly workers and unions, affected local communities, governments, and companies. Thanks to the International Labor Organization (ILO), the Just Transition has been incorporated into the Sustainable Development Agenda. It lead to the formulation of “Policy Guidelines for a Just Transition towards Environmentally Sustainable Economies and Societies for all”. They are based on the four pillars of the Decent Work Agenda: social protection, employment, labor rights and social dialogue.

Decent work

Likewise, the Just Transition has become very important in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and, therefore, in efforts to counter climate change. An example of this is Goal 8, which seeks to “Promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all”. The demand for decent work is imprinted on the energy transition and any other sustainable development effort. Trade unions should play an active role in demanding compliance with these commitments assumed by governments.

Collective dialogue

Communication gaps between the State, society and market networks often occur. Collective constructions that arises from dialogue with the communities affected by these changes are very valuable but often are ignored. Governments concentrate their efforts on reducing CO2 emissions. They ignore international recommendations aimed at regularizing transformations in the coal industry in the short and medium term. When this happens a social and economic crisis becomes inevitable in the coal producing regions.

Green economies 

An example of this is the experience of energy transition in Nigeria and Nairobi (Kenia), where the transition has been focused on creating green economies and reducing polluting emissions. African trade unions played a key role in ending human rights violations. 

Nigeria

In Nigeria, transnational companies have generated displacement, deforestation and other regressive effects due to oil and gas extractive activities. It generated huge environmental and socioeconomic problems. At the same time, the government proposes energy diversification from projects such as the creation of the largest solar park in Africa. Local workers unions and other social movements organized themselves and have sought to establish a social dialogue to promote the Just Transition. 

Kenia

In the case of Nairobi a sustainable rapid bus transportation system was implemented. Unfortunately, many matatus, drivers of privately owned minibuses, lost their incomes. Unions started to mobilize and were recognized as important actors. They were taken into account in further agreements on sustainable development and climate change measures.

Colombia

In South America, similar processes occur in northern Colombia. It is the Latin American country with the greatest progress towards the energy transition, according to the World Economic Forum. It also has great potential as a sustainable energy production territory (solar and wind energy)  in the regions that are currently coal mining. Nevertheless we are in a crisis due to government and business behavior in terms of Just Transition. 

Global Framework Agreements

To put corporate social responsibility into practice, the Global Framework Agreements (GFA) are useful social dialogue tools. They serve to protect the interests of workers throughout all operations of a multinational company. They contain crucial elements throughout the transition are the rights of information from the company. The GFA’s ensure the rights of the workers and the unions as their legal representations. They have the right to be consulted and to participate in environmental, social and economic issues. In this sense, corporate social responsibility policies represent a framework for union participation to influence the Just Transition processes.

ILO Recommendation 205

Meanwhile, the Colombian government has to promote, through public policies, the guidelines and recommendations regarding just transition stipulated by the International Labour Organisation ILO, a tripartite UN body. In this case ILO Recommendation 205 is applicable. It promotes local economic recovery to generate employment opportunities, decent work and socioeconomic reintegration. This Recommendation serves as a transition guideline in addition to national plans. It includes the launch of social dialogue processes. It assumes the specific commitment of an early evaluation of the socio-labor consequences of climate change. Among other measures, it puts the needs and demands of the worker and the affected communities on the agenda of the energy transition and of the measures against climate change. The recommendation contains specific elements regarding companies that plan a closure or reconversion. They need to  present a specific industrial and social action plan in relation to their workers and investments in the area.