New Report Finds Green Economy Could Create
Millions of Jobs
Sep 25, 2008 -- Voice of America News/ContentWorks
A new study says tackling climate change could create millions of new jobs
in both developed and developing countries. At the same time, the report
warns there will be job losses in certain sectors as countries adjust to the
shift from fossil fuel to renewable energy. The International Labor
Organization, the U.N. Environment Program and the International
Organization of Employers produced the study. Lisa Schlein reports for VOA
from Geneva.
This is the first comprehensive study on the emergence of a so-called green
economy. The new report finds efforts to reduce climate change are underway
and are generating new jobs in many sectors and economies.
Policy Director at the International Labor Organization, Stephen Pursey,
says tackling climate change will offer many job opportunities in both
developed and developing countries. But, he notes job losses will result
from the greening economy.
He tells VOA the urgent need to stop climate change from occurring means
that all jobs eventually will have to be part of the green economy.
"Now, some jobs will probably be phased out, particularly in areas like
fossil fuels and new jobs will be created in areas like solar, building
insulation, infrastructure investment," said Pursey. "Overall, the evidence
we have so far is that there are probably more job opportunities from
shifting to sustainable development patterns than there will be job losses."
"But, of course, they will not be the same people and the same places. So,
we have big issues of transition to make sure that people who are losing
jobs have opportunities to get back into the green economy," he added.
Authors of the report are generally optimistic about the creation of new
jobs. But, they warn many can be dirty, dangerous and difficult, especially
in developing countries. These include jobs in agriculture and recycling
which often are low paid, insecure and could involve health hazards.
Pursey says environmental policy makers must think of the employment
consequences when considering ways to contain and reduce greenhouse gas
emissions.
"Decent work is something that is really important for every family
tomorrow," he said. "But, now it is increasingly important that we address
climate change urgently. We cannot afford to put it off, even for decent
work. So, we have to get the two going together and what the report is
showing is that this is possible. You can have decent work, you can improve
working conditions and create better opportunities and tackle the
environmental challenges."
The report says the global market for environmental products and services is
projected to double to more than $2.7 billion a year by 2020. And, half of
this market, it says, is in energy efficiency and the balance in sustainable
transport, water supply, sanitation and waste management.
It notes 2.3 million people have found new jobs in the renewable energy
sector alone in recent years and by 2030, nearly 8.5 million people will be
working in wind and solar power.
It says renewable energy now generates more jobs than employment in fossil
fuels.
The report cites examples of massive green jobs that already have been
created in countries such as China, India, Brazil and South Africa. It adds,
in Nigeria, a biofuels industry based on cassava and sugar cane crops might
provide jobs for 200,000 people.
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