Technical Insights on Green Jobs
Peter Poschen (ILO)National Conference on Green Jobs
New Delhi, 24-25 June 2010
Outline
• Why green jobs and what are they?• Are green jobs real or a myth?• Opportunities for green jobs • Conclusions
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The dual challenge
Two defining challenges of the 21st century:
1.Environment: � Averting dangerous climate change and� Protecting life-support on earth
2.Social challenge: � Decent work for all, � Well-being and dignity for the excluded
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2nd Great transformation
‘Green growth’, ‘clean development’• Pollution control• Fewer resources/output (eco-efficient)• No pollution and degradation (eco-effective)• Sustainable economies
Profound impact on enterprises and workers
= Social effectiveness and sustainability?
Adaptation to climate change
Haiti, oct 2008:• 4 hurricanes• Loss= 15% GDP
Uganda:• + 20C• Loss coffee
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Green Jobs InitiativeGreen Jobs Report
The partners :
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Green jobs�Reduce consumption of energy and
raw materials (dematerialize economies )
�Avoid greenhouse gas emissions (decarbonize economies )
�Minimize waste and pollution�Protect and restore ecosystems
and environmental services�Adapt to climate change
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Green Jobs defined
‘Green jobs are (decent ) work created in economic sectors and activities, which reduces their environmental impact and adapts to climate change, ultimately leading to environmentally, economically and socially sustainable enterprises and economies.’
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Shades of greenTransport ‘light green’
• Significantly below average environmental impact
• Relative• Evolving• Eventually most
jobs greener
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Transport ‘a darker shade of green’
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Transport ‘dark green’
Greening across economy + High potential sectors
� Energy efficiency : buildings, industry, transport
� Renewable energy� Mobility : mass transportation� Recycling, waste management� Sustainable agriculture and forestry� Environmental services
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Reducing emissions (IPCC, 2007)
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Untapped potential: Greening work places:
Copper refinery Chile�Sulfuric acid�Heavy metals
Joint management-union initiative to clean up and save refinery
Global Program Green Jobs
• Green New Deal• ILO Global Jobs
Pact• G-20• Green Economy
Report (with UNEP)
• Advisory services to countries
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ILO Green Jobs Program countries
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Renewable energy 2006 and 2030
Australia
• Strong vs weak green
• +750,000 jobs by 2030(= + 5.5%)
Source: ACF/ACTU (2010)
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EU: More than meets the eye
8.6 m green 8.6 m green jobsjobs
36 m env jobs36 m env jobs
France: Green Jobs and the Economic Crisis
• € 50 billion• + 13%
[2009]• Direct
employment:290,000
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Green Jobs and Sustainable Development
BRAZIL:• 2.65 m formal green
jobs• 6.7% formal
employment• ~ construction industry• Growing faster than
overall labor market21
Brazil : Social housing, sustainable
construction‘My house-my life’ social
housing program (5/2009)• 500,000 units energy
savings measures (solar water heaters)
• - 40% electricity bill• - 18% peak demand
• + 18,000 jobs
Sustainable construction22
Conclusions for policy
� Green, decent jobs are real� Play a key role in a green economy� Leapfrogging opportunity for developing
countries and emerging economies
� More and better jobs than ‘business as usual’
� Major social benefits
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Major social benefits:• GDP of the poor: high energy and
natural resource content• Can benefit those who need them
most• Jobs + social inclusion• Health• (Energy, water …) security� Successful models exist ,
but often lack scale24
For more information:
• UNEP: ttp://www.unep.org/greeneconomy/
• ITUC: www.ituc-csi.org/• IOE: www.ioe-emp.org/• ILO: www.ilo.org/greenjobs
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Thank you
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