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

POSCHEN@ILO.ORG

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