Background information

The Council for a Just Transition in Working Life (Rådet for rettferdig omstilling i arbeidslivet) was established by the government in 2022 as a platform for dialogue on transition driven by environmental and climate policy. The council is chaired by the Minister of Climate and Environment and includes representatives from the social partners: The Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO), The Confederation of Vocational Unions (YS), The Confederation of Unions for Professionals (Unio), The Federation of Norwegian Professional Associations (Akademikerne), The Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise (NHO), The Enterprise Federation of Norway (Virke), The Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities (KS), and The Employers’ Association Spekter. The purpose of the council is to serve as a platform for discussing challenges and options before important decisions are made on the path to a zero-emissions society.

Content of measure

A meeting of the Council for a Just Transition was held on 6 November 2024, where the Minister of Climate and Environment invited the social partners to provide input on climate and environmental policy. In the meeting, the parties discussed the need for skills for the green transition in working life and the new demands that arise as we shift from a linear to a circular economy. Minister of Climate and Environment Tore O. Sandvik stated during the meeting that it is important to ensure that groups in society that are particularly negatively affected when climate policies are intensified are compensated in other ways. A just transition is important both in itself—because we want a fair society—but also because it provides a foundation for achieving a successful transition to a low-emissions society. If the transition is perceived as unfair, it will be difficult to implement, the minister pointed out.
The parties discussed, among other things, how to ensure the fairest possible transition and broad support for climate policy. Based on a public report on future skills needs, Challenges for Green Transition in Working Life , the parties deliberated on the types of skills required for the green transition and a circular economy. The ministry gave an update on the new regulations from the EU concerning circular economy.
In the meeting, the social partners were given the opportunity to present their views and provide input on climate and environmental policy. They argued for comprehensive policy packages, greater investment in research and education, and emphasised that political signals from the authorities must be clear and predictable.

Use of measure

Apart from the meeting 6 November 2024, the Council for a Just Transition in Working Life had a meeting on 24 January 2023, whitch included a briefing from the Climate Committee 2050, and was invited to a presentation of research at the Univerity of Oslo in September 2023.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Applies to all workers	Applies to all businesses	Applies to all citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government Social partners jointly Trade unions Employers' organisations	No special funding required

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	Consulted	Consulted
Form	Direct consultation outside a formal body	Direct consultation outside a formal body

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• Social partners jointly
• Main level of involvement: Peak or cross-sectoral level

Involvement

The social partners were invited and consulted in the design and implementation of the measure to establish a tripartite platform for dialogue concerning just transition.

Views and reactions

All peak-level social partners participate in the council.

Sources

• 30 May 2022: Meeting of the Council for Just Transition in Working Life (www.regjeringen.no)
• 06 November 2024: Took the parties to consult on a fair transition in climate policy (www.regjeringen.no)