JET-AFOLU Tool (Just and Equitable Transitions Assessment Tool for the Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Uses Sector in Latin America and the Caribbean)

About the JET-AFOLU LAC Assessment Tool

The Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Uses (AFOLU) sector is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), accounting for a large percentage of the region’s total emissions. At the same time, this sector is deeply vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, threatening livelihoods and exacerbating existing inequalities, particularly for indigenous peoples and local communities who manage a significant portion of the rural lands and represent a crucial part of the agricultural workforce. Recognizing the urgent need for climate action in the AFOLU sector, this project is developing a Just and Equitable Transitions (JET) Assessment Tool specifically tailored for the LAC region.

This tool will help stakeholders understand and address the potential social and economic impacts of climate policies and programs in the AFOLU sector, ensuring a transition that is both environmentally sustainable and socially fair.

Why a JET Assessment Tool for AFOLU in LAC?

While tools exist for just transitions in other sectors, particularly energy, there is a critical need for a tool focused on the unique challenges and opportunities within the AFOLU sector in LAC. This region’s high reliance on AFOLU for emissions and livelihoods, coupled with the significant presence of vulnerable populations dependent on these sectors, necessitates a specific approach.

This tool will:

• Identify and quantify impacts: Analyze how climate change, land use changes, and related measures affect vulnerable populations involved in AFOLU activities. 
• Map stakeholders: Identify and understand the roles and vulnerabilities of different stakeholders in the AFOLU sector. 
• Assess social and distributional impacts: Evaluate the risks, impacts, and opportunities of JET pathways and policies on vulnerable communities.
• Generate alternative measures: Recommend policies and actions that facilitate a just and equitable transition.
• Provide process recommendations: Guide how to ensure the transition process itself is just and equitable.
• Facilitate community engagement: Promote the active participation of transition-affected communities in decision-making processes. 

Key Features of the Assessment Tool

The JET-AFOLU LAC Assessment Tool will be:

• Flexible and adaptable: Designed for diverse contexts and stakeholder needs across the LAC region and potentially beyond.
• Integrative: Combining analysis with stakeholder engagement, drawing on participatory learning and action methods.
• Comprehensive: Incorporating social, political, economic, cultural, and environmental factors relevant to the AFOLU sector.
• Methodologically sound: Providing a clear step-by-step approach for conducting JET assessments.
• Impact-focused: Assessing potential social and environmental impacts and identifying opportunities for collaboration and benefit sharing.
• Oriented towards monitoring and evaluation: Including mechanisms to track progress towards just and equitable transitions.

Potential Applications of the Tool

This assessment tool can be used to inform various stages of development and policy-making, including:

• Strategic decision-making by the World Bank and other organizations.
• Project design and planning in the AFOLU sector.
• Policy formulation and advocacy at national, regional, and local levels.
• Resource allocation and financing for just and equitable transitions.
• Risk management and adaptation strategies.
• Capacity building and technical assistance for governments and communities.