As part of the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17), a panel discussion entitled “High-Level Dialogue on Just Transition for People and Biodiversity in Armenia” was held, with the participation of Elen Manaseryan, President of the Confederation of Trade Unions of Armenia (CTUA).
The discussion focused on the interconnections between environmental sustainability, economic development, workers’ rights and social justice, as well as the role of social partnership in the just transition process.
In her speech, CTUA President Elen Manaseryan emphasized that successful just transition requires turning social dialogue into a genuine and effective mechanism, particularly at the grassroots organizational level.
“First and foremost, we need to make social dialogue a reality, especially at the grassroots level within organizations. I am pleased to note that this year we have made progress at the government level, although trade unions are not entirely satisfied with the work of the Tripartite Commission. Nevertheless, this experience can serve as an example for sectoral social dialogue,” Elen Manaseryan noted.
Addressing Armenia’s economic and environmental challenges, the CTUA President stressed that the country’s economic dependence on mining, together with recent reports of violations of regulations governing pesticide use in agricultural production, highlights the need to address environmental and socioeconomic issues through an integrated approach.
“There is a simple truth: we cannot have decent work on a dead planet. And we must not discuss biodiversity as if it were isolated from other issues,” she emphasized.
According to Elen Manaseryan, social dialogue should contribute to preserving Armenia’s unique ecosystems while ensuring workers’ safety and sustainable livelihoods. To achieve this, dialogue platforms between the government and different sectors must be transparent and effective, with trade unions fully involved in their work.
The CTUA President also highlighted the role of workers in ensuring environmental safety, noting that people working on the ground are often the first to identify violations of environmental and safety regulations. However, they must be confident that speaking up about such issues will not result in losing their jobs.
“Workers must be confident that they will not lose their jobs for raising concerns. Tripartite social dialogue must serve as a bridge to close the gap between environmental legislation and reality,” Elen Manaseryan stated.
Addressing occupational health and safety, the CTUA President stressed the importance of expanding dialogue on the interconnection between biodiversity conservation and workplace safety.
The Confederation of Trade Unions of Armenia attaches great importance to protecting workers’ interests throughout the just transition process, strengthening social partnership and ensuring the full participation of trade unions in decision-making. A just transition must achieve not only environmental objectives but also ensure decent work, protect workers’ health and safety, and preserve social guarantees at every stage of the transition.
