UNEP-ILO side event: Green jobs: A chance for youth!

In a world of 7 billion, young people make up half the population and represent one in three unemployed. An estimated 600 million new job seekers will enter the labour market in the next 10 years and 12.7 per cent of the global youth labour force is expected to be unemployed this year, unchanged from the peak of the economic crisis in 2009.

The unprecedented level of youth unemployment represents opportunities and challenges for the future stability and prosperity of all nations. An exceptional collective response is required to address the employment needs of young people, in a focused and targeted way, to empower their contribution to a sustainable future. Missed investments in young people's intellectual and human potential are costly to reverse, both for youth and for society. Future generations need to be prepared for the transition to a green economy and need to have the opportunity to equip themselves with the necessary knowledge and skills.

Jointly with UNEP, the ILO will organize the side event “Green jobs: A chance for youth!”. The side event will highlight and expand partnerships for the promotion of green jobs opportunities for youth. Representatives of Governments, youth organizations, and international organizations will participate in an interactive panel discussion to give evidence of country initiatives that could be scaled up or replicated in other countries.

The side event will be held on Friday, 15 June, from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm at the Rio Convention Centre.  (See full agenda)

The event will bring together the different elements of green jobs roadmaps and lay out the menu of policy options that countries may wish to follow. It will call on country partners and donors to make commitments to or accelerate the policy process for the creation of green jobs opportunities for young people.