Green jobs

Climate change and the excessive use of scarce resources are prompting urgent calls for a shift towards more sustainable development and greener economies. The promotion of green jobs is central to this transition. For the ILO, the notion of green jobs summarizes the transformation of economies, enterprises, workplaces and labour markets into a sustainable, low-carbon economy providing decent work. But much needed innovative strategies to promote green jobs can only succeed with the full involvement and participation of workers and enterprises. The ILO Green Jobs Agenda supports a socially fair transition for enterprises, workers and communities, where the impact of changes in labour markets, including vulnerabilities and inequalities and new business models are addressed through social dialogue. Jobs are green when they help reduce negative environmental impact and ultimately lead to environmentally, economically and socially sustainable enterprises and economies.

More precisely, green jobs are decent jobs that:

1. Reduce consumption of energy and raw materials
2. Limit greenhouse gas emissions
3. Minimize waste and pollution
4. Protect and restore ecosystems

Green jobs can be created in all sectors and types of enterprises, in urban and rural settings, and in countries at all levels of economic development. The ILO Green Jobs programme undertakes different forms of action, including:

1. Conducting research on the social dimension of environmental changes;
2. Developing tools to diagnose green jobs and their potential;
3. Building capacity and providing policy advice to constituents (workers, employers and governments);
4. Participating in international forums on climate change and sustainable development