Ensuring No One is Left Behind: Addressing gender equality and social inclusion in JET plans

As the energy transition gathers pace, vulnerable groups in coal regions require support to adapt to the changing world. Women, Indigenous peoples, low-income communities and other disadvantaged groups are often the most affected by climate change and pollution, yet they have the least resources for adaptation. A just transition ensures that these groups have equal access to clean energy, affordable housing, and a voice in shaping climate policies. Leaving no one behind isn’t just a moral obligation—it’s also a smart, sustainable strategy that will build broad social trust, strengthen economies, and accelerate climate action.

But how can we achieve this in practice? What are the concrete steps we should take to include disadvantaged groups in the process? How can governments apply justice in energy, environment or labour policy-making? What about the roles of businesses, workers, and academia?

This online workshop, hosted by the International Labour Organization (ILO), will try to answer these questions by sharing experiences, best practices, and tools.  The workshop facilitates peer-to-peer knowledge exchange and promotes collaborative approaches to address gender inequalities and protect disadvantaged groups. The participatory exercise will enable members to reflect on how to implement acquired knowledge in their own area of work, encouraging them to put theory into practice .

The workshop forms part of the Community of Practice (CoP) for Just Energy Transition in Asia, facilitated by the ILO under the project “Innovation Regions for a Just Energy Transition” (IKI-JET). The initiative supports stakeholders as they plan and implement just energy transition pathways away from coal.

For additional information or inquiries, please contact Ananda Alonso Nacher at: nacher@ilo.org.

Read the event agenda, the CoP concept note, and the CoP workplan.