Climate Change Has Significant, Direct Impact On Global Labour Market: International Labour Organisation

Abu Dhabi: Moustapha Kamal Gueye, Coordinator of the Green Jobs Programme at the International Labour Organisation (ILO), said that climate change has a significant and direct impact on the global labour market. The ILO estimates that 100 million jobs can be created by 2030 by ensuring a green transition that fully considers its social dimensions. Worldwide employment in renewable energy reached 13.7 million in 2022, an increase of one million since 2021 and up from a total of 7.3 million in 2012, according to a report by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and ILO.

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Mr Gueye pointed out that green jobs are about promoting decent work in ways that help change energy systems, improve transportation systems, and help manage waste, contributing to the environmental sustainability agenda.

Green jobs are decent jobs that contribute to preserving or restoring the environment, be they in traditional sectors such as manufacturing and construction or in new, emerging green sectors such as renewable energy and energy efficiency.

“An estimated nearly 75 million people are currently working in Nature-based Solutions (NBS),” according to the first edition of the report series ‘Decent work in Nature-based Solutions’, published in collaboration between ILO, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

The report develops a robust framework for the assessment of employment in Nature-based Solutions (NbS), including the first empirical evaluation of current and potential future global employment in NbS.

The Coordinator of the Green Jobs Programme at ILO praised the work paths being taken by COP28, which takes into account the issue of climate change and its relationship to social development, employment and the labour market.

Also Read: COP28 Releases Crucial Document To Guide Adaptation Efforts, Disagreement Lingers

He explained that the COP28 negotiations are specific to the work programme on just transition, especially with regard to employment issues and social protection, and also related to losses and damages.

He stressed that responding to climate change will not only address environmental problems, but will also lead to social and economic benefits as a result of that economic transformation.

Mr Gueye called on COP28 participants to integrate climate ambition with the issue of job creation and fair social development for all, emphasising that nearly 4 billion people worldwide lack social protection Systems.

He stressed that these systems are important for people to feel safe and enjoy security and social protection to become more resilient in the face of climate shocks. At the same time, it is necessary to provide the skills that help young people to transition from working in fossil fuel fields to new and renewable energy fields and to enter new professions created by the new green economy.

Also Read: Clear Definition Of Climate Finance Crucial For Trust And Transparency: India At COP28

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

NDTV – Dettol have been working towards a clean and healthy India since 2014 via the Banega Swachh India initiative, which in its Season 10 is helmed by Campaign Ambassador Ayushmann Khurrana. The campaign aims to highlight the inter-dependency of humans and the environment, and of humans on one another with the focus on One Health, One Planet, One Future – Leaving No One Behind. It stresses on the need to take care of, and consider, everyone’s health in India – especially vulnerable communities – the LGBTQ population, indigenous people, India’s different tribes, ethnic and linguistic minorities, people with disabilities, migrants, geographically remote populations, gender and sexual minorities. In a world post COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign will continue to raise awareness on the same along with focussing on the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children, fight malnutrition, mental well-being, self-care, science and health, adolescent health & gender awareness. Along with the health of people, the campaign has realised the need to also take care of the health of the eco-system. Our environment is fragile due to human activity, which is not only over-exploiting available resources, but also generating immense pollution as a result of using and extracting those resources. The imbalance has also led to immense biodiversity loss that has caused one of the biggest threats to human survival – climate change. It has now been described as a “code red for humanity.” The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene. Banega Swasth India will also be taking forward the dream of Swasth Bharat, the campaign feels that only a Swachh or clean India where toilets are used and open defecation free (ODF) status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and the country can become a Swasth or healthy India.