The United Nations held its Rio+20 conference this week, which aimed to facilitate dialogue between the private sector, NGOs and governing bodies, including the European Union, about pressing environmental matters and sustainable development. One of the seven proclaimed “critical issues” of the conference was jobs; specifically, green jobs
These include positions in the fields of agriculture, industry, services, administration, and research and development that contribute to protecting and restoring the quality of the environment.
The green sector offers a wide array of job opportunities, while also tending to planetary concerns. Some preserve ecosystems and biodiversity, others combat waste and pollution, and there are also those that focus on de-carbonising the economy. Exemplary measures have been taken by various countries to promote such positions. Denmark, for example, initiated its ‘Green Ship of the Future’ to build more energy-efficient ships and improve the skills of the marine technicians who install and handle them. France’s Mobilisation Plan for Green Jobs addresses the need for skill development in green fields and for coordination of environmental strategy. This plan, which revises qualifications for jobs with regards to environmental factors and enhances existing training programmes to help workers meet them, is hoped to create 600,000 new green jobs by the year 2020. Both of these programmes bring together many groups in a comprehensive network; groups including government, companies, training providers, advisory bodies, and employment agencies.
The rest of Europe may follow soon. The European Commission’s new employment package, proposed in April, focuses on fostering competitiveness and boosting growth. The package emphasises a demand-side strategy to create jobs and increase overall employment, and also outlines areas to focus on for future economic growth. Among these areas are ICT, health services and the green economy. It is estimated that around 20 million jobs in the fields of renewable energy, recycling and green construction could be created with this package by 2020.
The economic benefits of development in this sector are enormous. Green jobs are an opportune commodity in the midst of a recession that has increased the average unemployment rate across Europe to over 10%. In recent years, over 2.3 million green jobs have been created in the field of renewable energy alone. In addition, the work they generate reduces the harmful effects of environmental damage and the economic costs that go with them. Limiting the reliance of the European economy on fossil fuels would save money that would otherwise be spent overseas, which could go to developing local industry. This could create new manufacturing and construction jobs, which could result in new, energy-efficient homes and buildings. It could also lead to improved roads, transit systems, and other types of infrastructure. Furthermore, this allows for more focus on wind and solar energy development, which adds more jobs and growth to the economy.
One group that particularly benefits from green jobs is the world’s youth. This demographic, which faces more and more difficulties in entering the job market, is turning to green jobs and taking advantage of the opportunities they offer. The popularity of green jobs lies in their offering of decent income, good working conditions and high job satisfaction. In addition, many jobs in areas such as clean energy would be open to workers with a high school degree or less, which is beneficial for lifting individuals out of poverty.
However, there are still a few bumps in the road to a green economy. For instance, there is the outstanding problem of matching up jobs and skills; the demand for workers is there, but often only for individuals with the proper training. There also needs to be further development of long-term jobs. Right now, opportunities consist overwhelmingly of short-term positions and internships. In addition, the green economy has focused mainly around alternative energy in the past, when in reality there is a large number of areas eligible for development.
Some of these issues can be remedied with training programmes to provide green workers with the skills they need for the developing market and regulations guaranteeing more job security and decent living wages. There also should be a set of goals for the future of the green economy that mutually benefit individuals, businesses and the planet. In troubled economic times, the green jobs sector has been one of the few areas that has seen growth. Therefore, it is beneficial to improve on this area through structural reform and by modifying existing business practices. In developing existing green jobs, we can create new ones. And by focusing more on the green economy, we can pave the way for a more sustainable future.
David Casa is a Nationalist MEP