Sustainable Development
22 April 2008
Read by 1839 persons
Good times for green jobs
Unique opportunities to create new markets
Green jobs reduce the environmental impact of businesses and economic sectors, bringing it back to sustainable levels.
These are defined as jobs in agriculture, industry, services and administration that contribute to the preservation or restoration of environmental quality. According to a recent ILO report, green jobs are found in many sectors of the economy, from energy supply to recycling and from agriculture to construction and transport. They help to reduce energy, raw material and water consumption through efficiency improvement strategies, reduce carbon emissions in the economy, minimize or completely avoid all forms of waste and pollution, and protect and restore ecosystems and biodiversity. Green jobs play a crucial role in reducing the environmental footprint of economic activity. This reduction is gradual and each job contributes differently.
Workers manufacturing fuel-efficient or hybrid cars, for example, contribute less to reducing transport emissions than those working in public transport systems. Furthermore, what is considered highly energy-efficient today will not be so in ten years' time. A sustainable economy can no longer externalize environmental and social costs. The consequences of pollution for society, such as health degradation, must be reflected in market prices. Green jobs must therefore comply with the definition of decent work. Decent green jobs are able to effectively link Millennium Development Goal 1 (reduce poverty) with Goal 7 (protect the environment) and help make these goals complementary rather than conflicting. Bioenergy has strong job creation potential and accounts for half of the reported jobs.
The environmental and social benefits of bioenergy as an alternative transport fuel vary considerably. Under favorable conditions, they can significantly contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions from transport. The quality of jobs in the biofuels sector also varies considerably, as well-paid and decent jobs generally coexist with jobs whose working conditions effectively violate human rights and labor rights. Encouragingly, increasingly powerful commercial incentives are emerging in favor of developing environmental protection activities in the economy and the job market.
Faced with soaring energy and commodity prices, consumers and decision-makers are putting increasing pressure on companies to adopt greener practices and production methods to avoid dangerous climate change. Activities aimed at making the economy more environmentally friendly represent a unique opportunity to create new businesses, develop new markets and reduce energy costs. Last but not least, they can also generate more positive attitudes among consumers and local communities towards company activities and investments.
Published on July 4, 2009
Posted online on July 10, 2009
lematin.ma
Unique opportunities to create new markets
Green jobs reduce the environmental impact of businesses and economic sectors, bringing it back to sustainable levels.
These are defined as jobs in agriculture, industry, services and administration that contribute to the preservation or restoration of environmental quality. According to a recent ILO report, green jobs are found in many sectors of the economy, from energy supply to recycling and from agriculture to construction and transport. They help to reduce energy, raw material and water consumption through efficiency improvement strategies, reduce carbon emissions in the economy, minimize or completely avoid all forms of waste and pollution, and protect and restore ecosystems and biodiversity. Green jobs play a crucial role in reducing the environmental footprint of economic activity. This reduction is gradual and each job contributes differently.
Workers manufacturing fuel-efficient or hybrid cars, for example, contribute less to reducing transport emissions than those working in public transport systems. Furthermore, what is considered highly energy-efficient today will not be so in ten years' time. A sustainable economy can no longer externalize environmental and social costs. The consequences of pollution for society, such as health degradation, must be reflected in market prices. Green jobs must therefore comply with the definition of decent work. Decent green jobs are able to effectively link Millennium Development Goal 1 (reduce poverty) with Goal 7 (protect the environment) and help make these goals complementary rather than conflicting. Bioenergy has strong job creation potential and accounts for half of the reported jobs.
The environmental and social benefits of bioenergy as an alternative transport fuel vary considerably. Under favorable conditions, they can significantly contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions from transport. The quality of jobs in the biofuels sector also varies considerably, as well-paid and decent jobs generally coexist with jobs whose working conditions effectively violate human rights and labor rights. Encouragingly, increasingly powerful commercial incentives are emerging in favor of developing environmental protection activities in the economy and the job market.
Faced with soaring energy and commodity prices, consumers and decision-makers are putting increasing pressure on companies to adopt greener practices and production methods to avoid dangerous climate change. Activities aimed at making the economy more environmentally friendly represent a unique opportunity to create new businesses, develop new markets and reduce energy costs. Last but not least, they can also generate more positive attitudes among consumers and local communities towards company activities and investments.
Published on July 4, 2009
Posted online on July 10, 2009
lematin.ma
