Resource guide on green jobs

“Jobs are green when they help reduce negative environmental impact ultimately leading to environmentally, economically and socially sustainable enterprises and economies. More precisely green jobs are decent jobs that:
- reduce consumption of energy and raw materials;
- limit greenhouse gas emissions;
- minimize waste and pollution;
- protect and restore ecosystems.”

The Green Jobs Programme of the ILO, 2009 (pdf 1.43 MB)

On this page: Find information on green jobs through Labordoc • International Labour Standards • Statistics • In the media • Key ILO documents • ILO links • External links • Photos • Slideshows • Videos

Find information on green jobs through Labordoc

• ILO publications on green jobs
• All publications on green jobs available in Labordoc

By theme

By region

International Labour Standards

Fundamental conventions

• C29 Forced Labour Convention, 1930
• C87 Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948
• C98 Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949
• C100 Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951
• C105 Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957
• C111 Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958
• C138 Minimum Age Convention, 1973
• C182 Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999

For more information, consult a list of international labour standards relevant to green jobs (pdf 176 KB).

International labour standards can be found in the NORMLEX database.

Statistics

There are no statistical databases on labour inspection available yet. However, you will find statistics on the topic in the following selection of publications.

In the media

Green Jobs Becoming a Reality

News and articles

• Skills for Green Jobs: selected stories from the field, 8 November 2011
• Questions and answers on the skills for green jobs challenge, 7 November 2011
• New ILO study says greener economies will require development of new green job skills, 7 November 2011
• The banana agribusiness in the Dominican Republic and Costa Rica: rich ground to create green jobs, 16 September 2011
• Green jobs kick-off workshop in the Arab States: the Lebanon case study, 27 July 2011 (pdf 817 KB)
• Planning a green economy in Kenya, 6 July 2011
• Youth join green jobs push in China, 15 February 2011
• Cancun Agreement: ILO highlights call for a “Just Transition” with green jobs and decent work, 15 December 2010
• ILO to focus on green jobs, employment issues at UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, 11 December 2009

World of Work, the magazine of the ILO

• Green jobs in construction: small changes – big effect (World of Work n°70, December 2010, p: 38 - 41)
• From shipyard to renewable energy centre: tomorrow’s jobs will be green (World of Work n°69, August 2010, p: 19 - 22)
• Green jobs: climate change in the world of work (pdf 2.46 MB) (World of Work n°60, August 2007)

Statements and speeches

• Statement by Guy Rider, ILO Director-General, on the occasion of World Environment Day 2013,
  5 June 2013
• Message by Juan Somavia, Director-General of the International Labour Office, on the occasion of World Environment Day, 5 June 2011 (pdf 48 KB)
• Message by Juan Somavia, Director-General of the International Labour Office, on the occasion of World Environment Day, 5 June 2010 (pdf 46 KB)
• Statement of ILO Director-General Juan Somavia - Making a deal on climate change work (pdf 53 KB), 22 September 2009

Audio

• Balancing economic growth and climate change in Asia with green jobs (mp3 6.4 MB)
• Les enjeux du réchauffement climatique en Afrique: vers des emplois verts (mp3 7.5 MB) (in French)