Addressing environmental sustainability and social deficits must go hand-in-hand
At a debate in the European Parliament, the ILO stressed that environmental sustainability, job creation and income generation can go hand-in-hand.
19 February 2019
A debate organized by the Club of Rome EU-Chapter and the European Parliament Intergroup on Climate change, Biodiversity and Sustainable Development addressed ways to achieve the SDGs in Europe, focussing on the interface of environmental and social issues.
Around 1.2 billion jobs depend directly on eco-system services, but the lack of decent work and income opportunities, or the search for short-term business profit, may lead to overexploitation of natural resources. “Ultimately, environmental degradation will compromise livelihoods and business prospects, and magnify inequality,” said Vic Van Vuuren, Director of the ILO Enterprises Department.
The current scale and intensity of environmental damage have profound social consequences. Between 2000 and 2015, 23 million working-life years were lost annually as a result of environment-related hazards caused or enhanced by human activity. According to the ILO, with continued global warming, by 2030, losses in productivity will be equivalent to 72 million full-time jobs.
Countries that managed to decouple economic growth from environmental degradation also achieved social gains, such as reduced working poverty.
A recent ILO report “Greening with Jobs 2018” suggests that action to limit global warming to 2°C, and focusing on energy transitions, will create a net 18 million jobs gains by 2030. This includes an additional two million jobs in Europe.
Mr Van Vuuren underlined that an effective response to the environmental challenges and social deficits of our time requires coherent policy frameworks and the involvement of all actors. “Governments must work closely with employers’ and workers’ organizations and other actors in society to build strong social consensus that is indispensable for transformative change,” he said. ILO constituents have formulated tripartite Guidelines for a just transition, a practical tool upon which countries can build to establish their policies.
Europe has a long-standing history and a vast experience with social dialogue to manage transitions. Recent examples include the Netherlands’ energy agreement for sustainable growth signed in 2013 by representatives from business, trade unions, regional and local administrations, NGOs and the financial sector through a large-scale forum, and the Belgian ‘eco-cheque’ system, designed to encourage environmentally friendly consumption, taking advantage of collective bargaining and agreements.
“The ILO looks forward to enhancing its partnership with the EU and its Member States and institutions, to advance a just transition for all in the greening of economies and societies,” Mr Van Vuuren concluded.
Around 1.2 billion jobs depend directly on eco-system services, but the lack of decent work and income opportunities, or the search for short-term business profit, may lead to overexploitation of natural resources. “Ultimately, environmental degradation will compromise livelihoods and business prospects, and magnify inequality,” said Vic Van Vuuren, Director of the ILO Enterprises Department.
The current scale and intensity of environmental damage have profound social consequences. Between 2000 and 2015, 23 million working-life years were lost annually as a result of environment-related hazards caused or enhanced by human activity. According to the ILO, with continued global warming, by 2030, losses in productivity will be equivalent to 72 million full-time jobs.
Countries that managed to decouple economic growth from environmental degradation also achieved social gains, such as reduced working poverty.
A recent ILO report “Greening with Jobs 2018” suggests that action to limit global warming to 2°C, and focusing on energy transitions, will create a net 18 million jobs gains by 2030. This includes an additional two million jobs in Europe.
Mr Van Vuuren underlined that an effective response to the environmental challenges and social deficits of our time requires coherent policy frameworks and the involvement of all actors. “Governments must work closely with employers’ and workers’ organizations and other actors in society to build strong social consensus that is indispensable for transformative change,” he said. ILO constituents have formulated tripartite Guidelines for a just transition, a practical tool upon which countries can build to establish their policies.
Europe has a long-standing history and a vast experience with social dialogue to manage transitions. Recent examples include the Netherlands’ energy agreement for sustainable growth signed in 2013 by representatives from business, trade unions, regional and local administrations, NGOs and the financial sector through a large-scale forum, and the Belgian ‘eco-cheque’ system, designed to encourage environmentally friendly consumption, taking advantage of collective bargaining and agreements.
“The ILO looks forward to enhancing its partnership with the EU and its Member States and institutions, to advance a just transition for all in the greening of economies and societies,” Mr Van Vuuren concluded.