Likewise, it has demanded the concerted action of the Government, Autonomous Communities and Town Halls to set up a job relocation plan for the workers affected by the energy transition.

Within the framework of the Climate Summit (COP25) held these days in Madrid, Minister Valerio presented the panel discussion: "Main lessons learned for the conversion of the Coal regions", in which representatives of the trade unions and companies linked to mining, associations linked to the sector.

In her speech, the minister recalled that Spain has been a pioneer in the design of a Just Transition Strategy that incorporates solidarity solutions "without leaving anyone behind" and that guarantees social cohesion. A path, he said, in which the social protection of affected workers is "key." In this sense, older workers who lose their jobs can access early retirement; while younger people will be entitled to compensation that allows them to move to other jobs. In addition, the minister has explained that work is already underway on the design of specific plans to generate employment in the short and medium term that will be completed with a relocation plan, which "requires" the concerted action of the Government, autonomous communities and City Hall. "

A planning that is combined with active employment policies and existing plans such as Youth Employment Shock Plan 2019-2021, he Reincorpora-T Plan, the Spanish activation strategy for employment and the Annual Employment Plans, next to the autonomous communities.

"We will act to strengthen new ventures, to fight against the depopulation of rural areas and generate activity and employment in the affected territories," he said.

Participatory Transition Agreements

Valerio has focused on agreements as tools for the development of the Just Transition Strategy. "We want the agreements to promote the participation of business and union organizations, universities, educational centers, associations and non-governmental environmental organizations, development agencies, Local Action groups and other interested or affected entities."

Experience in Spain demonstrates that coordinated action can generate agreements such as Sustainable Development Framework Agreement for Mining Regions, signed by the Government of Spain, unions and coal entrepreneurs (October 2018), which contains a battery of immediate support measures for mining workers, activation for the granting of aid to the mining municipalities of the 2013-2030 framework and short term financing.

The acting minister recalled that the Fair Transition Agreements are included in the Fair Transition Strategy proposal and in the Draft Law on Climate Change and Energy Transition, and has advanced that various agreements with the autonomous communities of Asturias, Aragon and Castilla y León, which will be signed in the first months of 2020, are already being worked on.

It is, he said, a "common strategic framework" that aims to take advantage of the economic, social or environmental resources of the territory, which attract external investments, in those sectors that also have better results of sustainability, both environmental and economic and social. "The objective is to avoid depopulation of the territories affected by the energy transition.

Valerio has finished his speech remembering that it is "obligation" of the Government "to invest in the capacities of people" through training and supporting the transitions they must face; "invest in work institutions" that guarantee a future of employment with "freedom, dignity, economic security and equality, which make up the cornerstones of fair societies"; and finally, "increase investment in decent and sustainable work, to adjust economic and social policy to business practice, decent employment and the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development".



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