28 February 2011
ILO Releases Note on Decent Work in a Green Economy
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The ILO has released a background note, titled "Promoting Decent Work in a Green Economy," which reflects the ILO's main inputs to the recent report of the UN Environmental Programme (UNEP).

24 February 11: The International Labour Organization (ILO) has released a background note to the report by the UN Environmental Programme (UNEP) titled “Towards a Green Economy: Pathways to Sustainable Development and Poverty Eradication.” The background note reflects the main ILO inputs into the report.

The background note, titled “Promoting Decent Work in a Green Economy,” articulates the social dimension of a transition toward a green and sustainable economy. In order to achieve a successful transformation, it emphasizes the need for: skilled workers; qualified employers; informed and engaged labor market institutions; and social dialogue.

Both the UNEP report and the ILO background note emphasize that investing in a green economy can produce growth, create jobs and contribute to development and poverty reduction. Among the benefits of the structural transformation would be: changes in employment patterns; new skills requirements; improved management practices; and the creation of new opportunities for business ventures and green jobs.

After describing the elements that favor a just transition, the background note presents an analysis of green jobs for selected economic sectors, including renewable energy, water provision, waste management, tourism, fisheries, buildings and the urban economy. [Publication: Promoting Decent Work in a Green Economy]

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