Foreword

Universal social protection has a pivotal role to play in supporting climate action and supporting a just transition. The triple planetary crisis is unfolding right before our eyes with climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss, providing almost daily reminders in the form of different catastrophes and by surpassing climate records. We know all too well that climate ambition needs to be increased; yet, many decision-makers shy away from bolder action, fearing the economic, social and political repercussions of the necessary mitigation and adaptation measures.

Universal social protection can help solve this conundrum by providing a systematic policy response that can simultaneously address both life-cycle risks and climate-related risks, reduce vulnerabilities and enhance the resilience of people, societies and economies. In doing so, it can enable and facilitate the necessary adaptation and mitigation measures, and contribute to addressing climate-related loss and damage. However, this is only possible if social protection systems guarantee universal coverage, provide comprehensive and adequate benefits, and are equitably and sustainably financed.

Despite the significant progress in extending social protection coverage since 2015, many countries are still not well prepared to face the challenges ahead. Commitments to realize the universal right to social security for all remain elusive, with 3.8 billion people still not protected at all, and many more not adequately protected. Ensuring people have access to social protection to cope with the consequences of climate shocks, engage in a greener economy as well as deal with ordinary lifecycle risks, should be paramount for policymakers.

The 2024–26 edition of the World Social Protection Report focuses on universal social protection for climate action and a just transition. Providing a global update on the status of social protection worldwide, for the first time with trend data, the report offers a broad range of global, regional and country statistics on coverage, on the benefits provided and on related public expenditure. It identifies the protection and financing gaps that must be filled and sets forth actionable policy recommendations to achieve universal social protection for all by 2030. Crucially, the report illustrates how social protection can support climate policies and expedite a just transition, enabling countries to build resilient systems that protect their populations from both life-cycle risks and climate-related challenges. To do this, countries must build and strengthen their social protection systems to protect people from ordinary life-cycle risks, the vagaries of an increasingly volatile climate, and the socially adverse impacts of some climate policies.

I urge policymakers to embrace the insights of this report. To enable climate ambition and set in motion a just transition, we must invest in strengthening national social protection systems. The opportunity for a greener future is within policymakers’ reach. Let us seize this chance and work together towards a brighter, more sustainable world.

Gilbert Houngbo

ILO Director-General