Africa: COP31 - Africa's 18m Workers Sound Alarm, Demand Climate Justice, Green Jobs, Billions in Funding

What the report says

Africa’s organised labour movement is pressing ahead of COP31 with a broad climate agenda that links emissions cuts to jobs, energy access and financing. In a report carried by Vanguard and distributed by AllAfrica on 10 November 2026, the Africa Regional Organisation of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC-Africa) said workers across 52 African countries want climate justice, decent employment, affordable electricity and substantial climate funding so the continent is not left carrying the costs of the global energy transition.

The union group, which says it represents 18 million organised workers, called on African governments, developed countries, lenders and other transition partners to place workers and communities at the centre of climate policy. Its demands include universal and reliable electricity, stronger public energy systems, and decision-making that includes affected communities and trade unions. It also argued that climate finance should come as new and predictable support, mainly through grants and concessional funding, rather than pushing African countries into more debt.

ITUC-Africa also urged stronger measures for a just transition as economies shift away from fossil fuels. That includes worker participation in restructuring decisions, employment-impact assessments, retraining, social protection and safeguards for women, young people, migrant workers and informal workers. The group said Africa should use renewable investment to build local industry, process critical minerals at home and create higher-value green jobs, rather than repeating an extractive model.

The appeal adds to wider debates ahead of COP31 over how to balance decarbonization with development, labour rights and access to energy across Africa.