A just transition aims to green the economy in a way that is fair and inclusive, creates decent work opportunities, and leaves no one behind.
Whilst just transition is applicable to all sectors and stakeholders in our global economy, to date it has been predominantly associated with the climate change convention (UNFCCC) and decarbonizing the energy sector. However, it is the land management sector (agriculture and pastoralism), which engages the largest and most climate vulnerable populations globally and where a just transition will be most impactful on ecosystems, food and water security, and day-to-day lives.
The imperative to understand and apply a “Just Land Transition” is particularly urgent in global drylands. These water scarce zones cover over 45% of total land area, are home to one-in-three people globally and contain almost half of all croplands and livestock. However, up to 35% of drylands are already degraded, and this figure is rising.
This policy brief, which supports the Brazil G20 Presidency theme of building a just world and a sustainable planet, aims to “rethink” just transition for sustainable land management and land restoration, with a focus on dryland zones. The brief introduces the importance of the pivot of just transition towards broader Rio Convention applications beyond the UNFCCC. The brief outlines recommendations for the G20 to support Just Land Transition via new norms and standards, governance, financing, and social inclusion interventions. As such, the brief supports the Brazilian G20 Presidency policy on new norms for international development cooperation and confronting global challenges.
The brief builds upon the G20 Global Land Initiative, which was launched by G20 leaders in 2020 with the ambition to achieve a 50% reduction in degraded land by 2040. It also aims to inform the upcoming 16th Conference of Parties (COP16) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).