Investments in solutions towards limiting global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels can lead to green job opportunities. According to ILO, green policy measures can offer employment opportunities for young people by creating 8.4 million jobs by 2030. To make the shift towards a sustainable and inclusive green economy, policymakers, workers, employers, and educators all need to join hands to support young people with the skills to access green and decent jobs. Against this backdrop, UN Environment Programme (UNEP), International Labour Organization (ILO) and UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) launched together the Green Jobs for Youth Pact at COP 27 in November 2022 which aims to support creation of 1 million green jobs, transition of 1 million existing jobs to be green and 10,000 youth to start or grow their green businesses.
As part of its awareness raising and youth engagement activities, UNEP together with UNICEF and ILO organized a session on the ‘Green Jobs for Youth’ during the 11th University Scholars Leadership Symposium, which was held in Bangkok 1-4 August 2023.