CO2 standards trilogue: Urgent need for inclusion of a Just Transition framework for EU’s automotive workforce
Next week it is anticipated that the trilogue on the revision of EU CO2 standards for cars and vans will conclude. The automotive industry, trade unions, employers and environmental organisations, have been jointly calling for a Just Transition framework within the new rules, which will accelerate structural change in the industry.
Whilst new jobs will be created in the electromobility ecosystem in battery production and charging infrastructure for example, jobs will be lost in internal combustion engine supply chain companies and specific regions. Jobs will not be easily interchangeable as they are often located in different places and require different skill sets. The European Commission has already identified the regions depending on the automotive industry as being exposed to multiple challenges while the EU is decarbonising, making the need for regional policy support vital.
A Just Transition framework must support the anticipation and management of change, including, but not exclusively, skills and training, and be underpinned by strong social dialogue. Despite the importance of the industry and scale of transformation underway, a clear, granular mapping of the employment consequences and trends of a shift towards a climate-neutral automotive industry is still to be done.
Given the number of jobs at stake and the magnitude of the ongoing transformation, social disruption due to a badly managed transition might severely undermine the ability of the European Green Deal to succeed. In their joint letter, representatives of the auto industry, trade unions, employers and environmental organisations call on negotiators from all three institutions to integrate an effective Just Transition framework within the final joint text of the amended CO2 Regulation.
We call on negotiators from all three institutions to integrate an effective Just Transition framework within the final joint text of the amended CO2 Regulation.
