1. Sustainable development, decent work and green jobs
Conclusions of tripartite discussion at International Labour Conference, June, 2013
Lessons for the MENA region
Christine Hofmann, ILO Cairo

2. labour market dynamics is critical
Introduction
Two defining challenges of the 21st century:
Achieving environmental sustainability:
Overuse natural resource, pollution, water scarcity, land degradation, biodiversity, climate change
Decent work for all:
Unemployment, working poverty, lack of social protection
Both are intimately linked
Transitions to greener jobs need to be just and managed well
labour market dynamics is critical
Transitions will cause shifts in the volume, composition and quality of employment across sectors
Affects level and distribution of income
Environmental jobs created in the process must be green and decent i.e. green jobs

3. Background: Green Jobs and the ILO
Flagship publications:
Green Jobs Report I, 2008
Working towards sustainable development, 2012
Skills for green jobs, 2011
Green Jobs mainstreamed through ILO’s work: capacity building, assessments, tools, policy advice, technical cooperation
General discussion at ILC, 1 year after Rio+20 UN Conference on Sustainable Development. Outcome: tripartite conclusions
World of Work to formulate guidance for national initiatives

4. Seizing the opportunities and managing the challenges
Job creation
An environmentally sustainable economy could lead to % more employment i.e million additional jobs
More with higher investment
Gains may be higher in emerging economies and developing countries than in industrialized ones
Improving the quality of existing jobs
Major opportunity and need for improved working conditions, skills, better OSH, and higher incomes
Economic restructuring
Protection of existing jobs through greening of enterprises
Improving the productivity of energy and materials is an important means
Particular attention required to SMEs

5. ILC Conclusions
Strong social consensus on goals and pathways to sustainability is fundamental: Governments, employers and workers are active agents of change through social dialogue at all levels
Promote fundamental principles and rights and work, including gender dimensions
Anticipate impacts on employment
Invest in natural resource management and env. sustainable production and consumption
Design coherent policies to provide enabling environment for enterprises, workers, investors and consumers to drive transitions

6. Recommended key policy areas to promote green jobs and manage transition
Macroeconomic and growth policies
Industrial and sectoral policies
Enterprise policies
Skills development
Occupational safety and health
Social protection
Active labour market policies
Social dialogue and tripartism

7. Energy sector: Working towards sustainable development (ILO, 2012)
Shift to low-carbon energy supply will have important net positive effects on employment and help address energy poverty in rural communities
Growth of the renewable energy industry has supplemented jobs in the fossil fuel sector, not replaced them
Job losses in the fossil fuel industry mainly due to rising mechanization and labour productivity
Renewable energy jobs are of better quality than in fossil fuel industry (if deployment is gradual)

8. Findings from Egypt: Skills for green jobs
ILO/GIZ Conference: Skills for green jobs. The case of composting and renewable energy
19 November 2012
Lack of coordination: No institutional mechanism to link skills and environmental policies
No systematic data collection on skills for green jobs
Skills forecasting mechanisms do not systematically analyse skills for green jobs
Organizations dealing with the environment are well aware of skills requirements
Formal education and training system has not mainstreamed environmental concerns and related skills

9. Findings from Egypt cont.
Findings continued
Skills response scattered and mainly by enterprises on-the-job or variety of specialized providers and centres of excellence
Missing incentives: Energy subsidies (e.g. for green building)
Some skill and occupational requirements:
Environmental auditor,
energy and clean production advisors,
bio-fuels operator
Strengthen networks, collaboration and cross-fertilization between actors
Start dialogue on needed skills responses today

10. Policy coherence for green jobs in France
Study by Boston Consulting Group (2009):
green growth in France could secure jobs by 2020
Grenelle de l’Environnement
5 parties: government, unions, employers, NGOs and local authorities.
Social dialogue!!
National Strategy for Sustainable Development
Training is included!!
Mobilization Plan for Green Jobs
Mobilization of the State
Mobilization of industries
Mobilization of territories
11 Sectoral Committees: analysis on skills needs in the green economy .
France – a stand alone case. A comprehensive policy framework
Mobilisation of the State (national level)
Identify quantity and quality of skills for GJs, inlc. Observatory (tbc)
Promote these trades
Adjust training provision, incl. that for teachers and trainers
Mobilisation of industries and businesses
Developing green competencies and portable skills
Access for disadvantaged groups
Green enterprise creation
Mobilisation of territories
part of preparation of regional plans for development of training created by Law on Career Guidance and LLL of June 2011

11. ILO Resources Think pieces
Are green jobs decent?
Think pieces
Research: e.g. Green building sector in South Africa, Global impact of e-waste, Skill needs in green building and renewable energy
Assessment tools for green jobs potential, sector assessments,
Training manuals for workers
Forthcoming: - A step-by-step guide on identifying skill needs for green jobs - International Conference for Labour Statisticians to discuss Green Jobs Definition
A number of forecasts have indicated that the overall impact on employment of the transition to a low-carbon economy will be positive. This assessment is based on two main assumptions:
(1)That strengthened regulation to combat climate change will lead to expanded production of environmental goods and services;
(2) That many green sectors tend to be more labour intensive than ‘traditional’ fossil fuel based industries. (i.e. that investments in environment-friendly economic activities support more jobs per unit of expenditure)
Investment in greener economic activities generates jobs not only directly, for example in solar panel production, installation and maintenance, or in hybrid car manufacturing, but also indirectly in the supply chain – for instance, in steel production for wind turbines. In addition, investment in environment-friendly industries generates induced employment in the form of jobs generated by consumer spending.
Although new job opportunities arising from new low-carbon markets are estimated to offset the unemployment, those who will get green jobs are not necessarily those who will have lost their jobs. Retraining becomes crucial for the success to smooth and just transition to the low-carbon and green economy. Low-skilled people are especially vulnerable as it will be difficult to compete for new jobs. Disadvantaged groups on the labour market need targeted assistance. Portable skills become of a special value as they increase adaptation of workers and their occupational mobility.

12. Thank you for your attention
The reports are available at: and