ILO Director-General Juan Somavia highlighted the potential for the creation of environmentally friendly green jobs in a panel discussion and press conference at the Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum organized by the United Nations Environment Programme in Monaco.

More than 100 ministers from across the globe are scheduled to attend the Global Ministerial Environment Forum (GMEF) – The world’s forum for environment ministers – alongside senior figures from industry and economics, science, local government, civil society, trade unions and intergovernmental bodies.

“The Challenge that brings us together is about much more than the environment. It’s about the need for a profound transformation in the way we produce and consume – and the commitment to working together to enable the economy and society to effectively make that transition”, Somavia said. “The objective of the Green Jobs initiative is to promote and identify the many technological innovations, investment opportunities, enterprise and quality job creation potential of a sustainable development path.”