The Future of Work: Catalyzing Just Transition towards Green Jobs in Developing and Least Developed Countries
Description
Our environment and our work are deeply intertwined. The health of our planet directly impacts businesses, jobs, and the resources and services that nature provides. Economic and social progress rests on a thriving environment. But climate change and environmental damage are already destabilizing these foundations, threatening jobs and livelihoods around the world. The transition to a low-carbon, resource-efficient economy will shift jobs, businesses, and entire economies. This transition, while potentially disruptive, also presents immense opportunities for economic growth, job creation, and better workplaces. Studies by the ILO reveal that implementing the Paris Agreement could generate 18 million more jobs by 2030 than simply continuing as we are.
According to ILO data, the global market for environmental products and services is projected to double from US$ 1,370 billion per year at present to US$ 2,740 billion by 2020. The renewable energy sector is a major driver of employment growth, with 2.3 million jobs created in recent years in the renewable energy sector. The prospects for job growth are substantial, with projections indicating a potential rise of 2.1 million in wind energy and 6.3 million in solar power by 2030. The opportunities lie vast ahead in various sectors, in agriculture sector for instance, biomass for energy and related industry is potentially expected to be employed 12 million people.
However, in the context of the Global South, jobs in the new sustainable energy sector are not distributed evenly across the world. China, Brazil, and India have already emerged as employment hubs, yet green jobs in developing and least developed countries mostly are in the initial stage. Consequently, demand for green jobs in developing and least developed countries is still limited, encompassing both newly created positions and the ‘greening’ of existing ones towards environmentally friendly practices. The informal economy accounts for a large percentage of employment in most least developed countries, presenting a particular challenge to disseminating skills for green jobs. ILO also finds practices of “green but not decent jobs” in developing countries, include low-wage jobs installing solar panels, and jobs in shipbreaking or electronic waste recycling where occupational safety is inadequate. In many instances, these sectors are defined by their informal nature, hardship and occupational and health hazards. Lack of standardized occupational classification and expertise for green jobs remains challenging in this context.
A successful transition that unlocks opportunities for job creation and social development hinges on the development of well-coordinated policies. This necessitates a deep understanding of the interplay between environmental factors and policies, and how they affect labor markets. Such policies will require collaboration between various stakeholders. Maximizing these positive employment benefits from green jobs requires a conscious effort from governments, businesses, and workers, particularly by ensuring policy readiness in supporting green jobs transition and promotion in developing and least developed countries. It entails “a country-specific mix of macroeconomic, industrial, sectoral and labor policies that create an enabling environment for sustainable enterprises to prosper and create decent work opportunities.
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