ILPC 2026

At the time of writing the global economy finds itself on the edge of a second financial meltdown. Global warming and climate change threaten further cataclysmic events. It is argued that the shift to a cleaner, low carbon world economy is necessary to mitigate the effects of the latter, and the global financial crisis offers the opportunity to mobilise intelligence and innovative thinking to identify policies, strategies and measures for green growth (Martinez-Fernandez et al., 2010: 6). A key question that needs to be addressed is what are the implications for work and employment and labour markets of measures aimed at reducing carbon emissions and making the transition from a high to low carbon economy? The OECD (2010) suggests that the creation of good jobs in a low carbon economy requires strengthening education and training systems, and supporting activities for the development of ‘green’ skills.

A central problem in the analysis of transition is to define ‘green’ skills and jobs (see Martinez-Fernandez et al., 2010: 6). These debates are addressed here, but the core focus is on the strategies that have been considered to ensure a transition to a low carbon economy and the specific implications of such strategies for skills and jobs. The argument is that transition is dependent on a coalition of interests, involving community leadership, industry and union support, and government engagement. More particularly, education and training are key elements of the strategy to achieve transition. However, strategies for transition are uneven and complex with different outcomes (and implications) for the development of ‘green’ skills and employment.

In this paper, we provide an account of six case studies from across the world (United States, UK, Australia, Germany, South Korea and Costa Rica) where shifts (in national and/or local/regional contexts) from high to low carbon economies have taken place or are underway. The analysis focuses on the centrality of ‘green’ skills development and ‘green’ jobs creation to economic restructuring. The paper discusses the implications for education and training systems and workplaces and workers in making such transitions. It provides an analysis of green strategies for up-skilling and/or re-skilling, as a way of meeting the skills needs of individual firms and entire industries, which are part of efforts to build a sustainable future based on green employment and manage the transition to low carbon economic growth.

References

Martinez-Fernandez, C., Hinojosa, C. and Miranda, G. (2010) Greening Jobs and Skills: Labour Market Implications of Addressing Climate Change, OECD Local Economic and Employment Development (LEED) Working Paper Series, Paris: OECD

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (2010) Interim report of the Green Growth Strategy: Implementing our Commitment for a Sustainable Strategy, C(2010)48/REV1, 19 April 2010, OECD internal document.