A new study published on Tuesday by the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) highlights the urgent need to reduce Carbon Emissions to strengthen greener economies and have an impact on efforts against climate change. Low carbon economies are not a new initiative, but Tuesday’s report adds depth to the role of the International Labor Organization (ILO) in supporting clean energy. The ILO, as an observer organization, seeks to help “resource-efficient economic growth, generate decent income and jobs, and reduce poverty and inequality”. The ILO highlights the impact that climate change and environmental degradation have on economic growth around the world and how, if climate change action is managed correctly, it could lead to an increase in jobs. The report, written by 278 scientists from 65 countries, noted that greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, specifically carbon emissions, between 2010 and 2019 were higher than in any previous decade. According to estimates, carbon emissions in this time period account for about four-fifths of the remaining “carbon budget,” a number that indicates the maximum amount of net carbon emissions that could result in limiting global warming. The report states that without immediate reductions in all sectors, it will not be possible to limit global warming to 1.5°C. 1.5°C is the irreversible number to which we expect global warming temperatures to rise between 2030 and 2052. According to the authors, the main area in need of substantial transitions is the energy sector. Ways to do this include “widespread electrification of the energy system” and “alternative fuel systems such as hydrogen and hydrogen derivatives.” Additionally, changes would need to be made to the aviation and shipping industries to provide some mitigation potential, something in which electrification could play a role. Electrification refers to the process of replacing the direct use of fossil fuels with electricity to better reduce emissions and energy costs. In December 2021, the UN Climate Change Conference accepted the Just Transition Declaration, a proposal with the aim of ensuring that no one is left behind in the transition process that is advancing. This proposal works to mitigate the damage caused to those who work in the affected sectors and to cities that depend on carbon-intensive industries to prosper. The IPCC report makes it clear that to succeed in climate change efforts, we need everyone’s help, and at the heart of that effort is international cooperation.