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Podcast series: Global challenges – Global solutions

Nature-based solutions: how protecting the planet can create jobs

Nature-based Solutions are increasingly being seen as offering a way to address environmental issues, while helping economies grow by laying the groundwork for creating millions of new jobs. This podcast highlights the potential of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) to protect the planet while creating decent work and unleashing new skills and reskilling for millions of workers in the process.

12 March 2025

© Kwaku Griffin/Pexels

Can Nature-based Solutions help us address environmental challenges, while laying the groundwork for creating millions of new jobs? A report by the ILO, the UN Environment Programme and the International Union for Conservation of Nature titled “Decent Work in Nature-based Solutions (NbS)” says NbS has the potential to add up to 32 million jobs by 2030 to the already more than 60 million working to protect, and restore and sustainably use natural resources with the greatest gains in Africa, Latin America and the Arab States. At the same time, NbS will also require new skills training and reskilling of some workers. In this podcast, two lead editors of the report, Maikel Lieuw-Kie-Song, Senior Technical Specialist of the ILO Employment Policy Department, and Rowan Palmer, a Programme Officer in the United Nations Environment Programme’s Economic and Trade Policy Unit explain.

This podcast is also available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Guests

  • Photo of  Maikel Lieuw-Kie-Song
    Maikel Lieuw-Kie-Song
    ILO Senior Technical Specialist, Employment Policy Department
  • Photo of Rowan Palmer
    Rowan Palmer
    Programme Officer in the United Nations Environment Programme’s Economic and Trade Policy Unit

See also

Virtual launch of the report "Decent Work in Nature-based Solutions 2024: Unlocking jobs through investment in skills and nature-based...

Online event

Virtual launch of the report "Decent Work in Nature-based Solutions 2024: Unlocking jobs through investment in skills and nature-based...

Nature-based Solutions can generate up to 32 million new jobs by 2030, but investments in skills needed
graphic of surveyors outside with city skyline in the background

ILO-UNEP-IUCN report

Nature-based Solutions can generate up to 32 million new jobs by 2030, but investments in skills needed

Global challenges - Global solutions
hands holding smartphone

Podcast series

Global challenges - Global solutions

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