Can the Green Economy Reduce Unemployment in Tunisia?
11 June 2015
Read by 3059 persons
"The green economy, defined as economic activity based on reducing environmental risks and resource scarcity, presents a significant opportunity for Tunisia, which faces two major problems: unemployment among young graduates and development models that, until now, have been based on the excessive exploitation of natural capital." This was stated by Samir Meddeb, an expert in environment and sustainable development.
In a statement to the TAP agency on the sidelines of a conference organized on Thursday, June 4 in Tunis, on green jobs in the Middle East and North Africa, the expert stressed that the green economy provides an answer to these two major problems and offers the possibility of creating new environmentally friendly jobs with low consumption of raw materials and a low environmental impact.
In this regard, he emphasized the importance of political will and the development of strategies that are implemented at the level of all sectors (agriculture, construction, tourism, etc.), as well as strengthening the legislative framework, guaranteeing control, support, training and implementing incentives.
Speaking on this occasion, Ezzedine Hdhiri, Director General of Sustainable Development at the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, indicated that as part of the development of a national roadmap for the transition to a green economy, a series of strategic studies, programs and work plans have been carried out.
In this context, he cited the national green economy strategy, which is currently being developed and aims to develop new economic activities in several sectors such as organic agriculture, ecological tourism, sustainable transport, sustainable infrastructure, green buildings, green industries, green information and communication technologies, green services and others through strengthening energy efficiency, the use of renewable energies, water saving, the use of treated water and integrated waste management.
He also indicated that studies carried out within the framework of the national green economy strategy have revealed that the overall cost of the green economy is estimated at approximately 33 billion dinars. "These investments should create nearly 263,000 additional jobs by 2030, including 200,000 permanent jobs." He also noted that, according to the same estimates, greenhouse gas emissions will be reduced to approximately 148 million tonnes of CO2.
Ezzedine Hdhiri pointed out that the agricultural sector will create the largest number of permanent jobs (approximately 75,000), followed by the industrial sector (37,000) and the forestry sector (30,000).
He also indicated that the energy sector will require the largest volume of investment (11 billion dinars) while it will create fewer permanent jobs compared to other sectors.
Organized by the German Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Foundation, the conference on the prospects and job opportunities in a sustainable economy provided an opportunity to present the experiences of several countries in the field of the green economy such as Jordan, Egypt, Germany, Morocco and Algeria.
Presentations on sustainable tourism, job prospects in organic agriculture, waste processing, renewable energies and green jobs were presented at this meeting.
Webmanagercenter.com
Published June 5, 2015.
Posted online June 11, 2015.
In a statement to the TAP agency on the sidelines of a conference organized on Thursday, June 4 in Tunis, on green jobs in the Middle East and North Africa, the expert stressed that the green economy provides an answer to these two major problems and offers the possibility of creating new environmentally friendly jobs with low consumption of raw materials and a low environmental impact.
In this regard, he emphasized the importance of political will and the development of strategies that are implemented at the level of all sectors (agriculture, construction, tourism, etc.), as well as strengthening the legislative framework, guaranteeing control, support, training and implementing incentives.
Speaking on this occasion, Ezzedine Hdhiri, Director General of Sustainable Development at the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, indicated that as part of the development of a national roadmap for the transition to a green economy, a series of strategic studies, programs and work plans have been carried out.
In this context, he cited the national green economy strategy, which is currently being developed and aims to develop new economic activities in several sectors such as organic agriculture, ecological tourism, sustainable transport, sustainable infrastructure, green buildings, green industries, green information and communication technologies, green services and others through strengthening energy efficiency, the use of renewable energies, water saving, the use of treated water and integrated waste management.
He also indicated that studies carried out within the framework of the national green economy strategy have revealed that the overall cost of the green economy is estimated at approximately 33 billion dinars. "These investments should create nearly 263,000 additional jobs by 2030, including 200,000 permanent jobs." He also noted that, according to the same estimates, greenhouse gas emissions will be reduced to approximately 148 million tonnes of CO2.
Ezzedine Hdhiri pointed out that the agricultural sector will create the largest number of permanent jobs (approximately 75,000), followed by the industrial sector (37,000) and the forestry sector (30,000).
He also indicated that the energy sector will require the largest volume of investment (11 billion dinars) while it will create fewer permanent jobs compared to other sectors.
Organized by the German Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Foundation, the conference on the prospects and job opportunities in a sustainable economy provided an opportunity to present the experiences of several countries in the field of the green economy such as Jordan, Egypt, Germany, Morocco and Algeria.
Presentations on sustainable tourism, job prospects in organic agriculture, waste processing, renewable energies and green jobs were presented at this meeting.
Webmanagercenter.com
Published June 5, 2015.
Posted online June 11, 2015.
