27 August 2014: Guy Rider, Director-General of the International Labour Organization (ILO), and Christiana Figueres, Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), have released a joint statement highlighting the socioeconomic benefits of a transition to a green economy, including social inclusion, poverty alleviation and better jobs. According to the statement, shifting to a green economy could generate an additional 60 million jobs over the next 20 years.

The statement was released as Figueres was preparing to speak at the World Health Organization (WHO) Conference on Health and Climate, held from 27-29 August 2014, in Geneva, Switzerland, and in anticipation of the UN Climate Summit, scheduled to take place on 23 September 2014, in New York, US. It emphasizes the linkages between the environment, health and jobs. Stressing that economic growth and sustainability go hand-in-hand, the two leaders announce their organizations’ commitment to collaborate for “an ambitious and successful global climate change agreement.”

In the statement, Rider and Figueres point to the UN Climate Summit and 2015 UN climate change conference to be held in Paris, France, as opportunities to: take ambitious action toward de-carbonization; spur sustainable enterprise; create decent, full and productive employment for all; and safeguard the environment for generations to come. “Inaction is not an option,” according to the two leaders, as unabated climate change will “damage…infrastructure, disrupt business activity, and destroy jobs and livelihoods on an unprecedented scale.” [UNFCCC Press Release] [ILO, UNFCCC Joint Statement] [IISD RS Coverage of the WHO Conference on Health and Climate]