The move towards a green economy has been gaining momentum in parallel with the international debate and negotiations on climate change. That debate has brought out the need to take a deeper look at the notion of green jobs and its links with economic, social and environmental development goals.

The potential for green jobs exists in countries at all levels of economic development. Green jobs span a wide array of skills, educational backgrounds and occupational profiles. They contribute to reducing the environmental impact of enterprises and economic sectors to levels which are sustainable. They can also play a role in socially inclusive development if associated with adequate incomes, social protection, social dialogue and respect for the rights of workers and communities, which are preconditions for a more equitable future.

The ILO has been exploring the links between the environment and the world of work. The policy document entitled “Green Jobs: Towards decent work in a sustainable, low-carbon world”, produced jointly with the UNEP, the IOE and the ITUC in 2008, was a milestone. More recently, the ILO launched the Green Jobs Programme with the aim of promoting decent work in the “green economy”.

The Green Jobs Programme has grown rapidly and is now worldwide. It includes: active participation in international policy debates; global analysis and research; assistance to ILO member countries and constituents; and capacity-building services.

For its part, the ITC-ILO coordinates the training activities of the Green Jobs Programme, offering open and tailor-made courses to ILO constituents and other development stakeholders. The courses provide notions, cases and practical tools for tackling the social and employment effects of environmental challenges. They are designed to help participants to see green jobs strategies and actions as opportunities for change at the national and local levels.

Specific subjects are: climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies; greening value chains, enterprises and the workplace; skills for green jobs; sectoral policies and green jobs; social dialogue and multi-stakeholder partnerships for promoting green jobs.    

Our training activities in this area include:

• Green jobs: Linking the environment, climate change and the world of work
• Trade union training in climate change policies, green jobs and decent work
• Green jobs learning forum: Local strategies and actions
• Green procurement

Contact is also maintained with relevant ILO units, development institutions and research centres.