The Canadian Institute for Environmental Law and Policy (CIELAP) has conducted the following national research study to seek the perspectives of diverse Canadian stakeholders on what a Green Economy could mean for Canada in the lead-up to Rio+20. The study covers potential gains for Canada, success stories and best practices, lessons learnt, challenges and opportunities, as well as the role for the Canadian government and other stakeholders in advancing a green economy.
Trade has the potential to drive a green economy by fostering the exchange of environmentally friendly goods and services, increasing resource efficiency, generating economic opportunities and employment, and contributing to poverty eradication. If managed poorly, however, unrestrained trade can contribute to environmental degradation, unsustainable resource use, and increased wealth disparities, all of which hinder a green economy transition and sustainable development objectives.
This discussion paper was prepared under the auspices of the United Nations Task Team on Social Dimensions of Climate Change, which is currently composed of 20 Agencies, including the International Labour Organization. The paper addresses the social dimensions of climate change from a sustainable, equitable development perspective. It aims to broaden and deepen policy-makers’ understanding of the benefits of addressing and incorporating the social dimensions of climate change into climate policies. In doing so, the paper identifies a number of knowledge gaps within the social, human and natural sciences that need to be filled in order to further strengthen policy responses.
This working paper is the joint effort of the Employment Intensive Investment Programme and the Green Jobs Programme. It explores the implications of climate change, its impacts on the world of work and the need for the work of the International Labour Office to adapt to it. It takes stock of the on-going work and identifies the needs for further development.
This paper presents comparative data on innovation in selected climate change mitigation and adaptation technologies in the context of Africa. Such analysis informs policy aimed at encouraging international technology transfer and development of domestic innovation capacities. The authors present detailed analysis of the role of Africa in development of these technologies (invention), and then move on to examine Africa as a technology market (as reflected in patenting). In addition, the authors briefly touch upon the question of cross-border technology development (co-invention) in Africa. Despite Africa’s generally low volume of inventive activity in these fields in comparison with other countries, inventive activity is disproportionately directed towards mitigation and adaptation technologies. In addition, the rate of international co-invention for most mitigation and adaptation technologies is much higher in Africa than in the rest of the world. And finally, rates of protection of climate technologies at African intellectual property offices are high relative to other technologies.
This book includes key environmental indicators endorsed by OECD Environment Ministers and major environmental indicators from the OECD Core Set. These indicators reflect environmental progress made since the early 1990s and thus contribute to measuring environmental performance. Organised by issues such as climate change, air pollution, biodiversity, waste or water resources, they provide essential information for all those interested in the environment and in sustainable development.
The world economic and social survey (WESS) provides analysis of pressing long-term social and economic development issues and discusses the positive and negative impact of corresponding policies. Even though enormous improvements in human welfare have taken place over the past two centuries, these have been unevenly distributed and have come at a lasting cost of environmental degradation. At the same time, we cannot stop the engines of growth, because economic progress is still needed in order for people in developing countries to have a decent standard of living. The 2011 edition of WESS calls for a complete transformation of technology on which human economic activity is based. The survey details new policy directions and major investments in developing and scaling up clean energy technologies, sustainable farming and forestry techniques, climate proofing of infrastructure and reducing non-biodegradable waste production.
This summary was prepared by Eldis.
The Development Co-operation Report is the key annual reference document for statistics and analysis on trends in international aid. This year, the Development Co-operation Report 2012 seeks to provide insights into how to address today’s sustainable development challenges, with a focus on inclusiveness and good governance to ensure that our finite resources are equitably distributed, now and in the future. Sharing finite resources among a growing number people – and consumers – is a critical challenge.
In the light of the strong policy commitments at European level to the development of a sustainable and resource-efficient economy, in recent years Cedefop has been focusing on ‘green’ growth and its implications for skills and vocational education and training policies.
This report examines trends in employment, skill needs and training provision for a selected group of occupations likely to be affected by the development of a low-carbon and resource-efficient economy and makes policy recommendations that seek to ensure that businesses can take advantage of the opportunities presented by this transition and that the skill needs it generates are met.
Nine occupations were selected to provide a balanced mix of sectors and skill levels in the labour market:
(a) nanotechnologist, engineering technologist and environmental engineer as examples of high-skilled occupations;
(b) energy auditor, transport vehicle emissions inspector, insulation worker, electrician, solar photovoltaic installer and sheet-metal worker as examples of medium-skilled occupations;
(c) refuse/recycling collector as an example of a low-skilled occupation.
The magnitude of climate change and of the ensuing changes in production systems requires us to seek solutions to meet these challenges and to guide us in making the necessary production transitions, while simultaneously guaranteeing social cohesion, participation in decision-making and best use of potential benefits in terms of job creation. In this sense, the Green Jobs Programme of the ILO, in collaboration with the Sustain Labour Foundation, the International Foundation for Sustainable Development, has conducted this case study on the Social Dialogue Tables Initiative conducted in Spain as a mechanism for trade unions and employers' organizations, together with industry, environment and labour institutions to assess the effects on the competitiveness, employment and social cohesion of the Kyoto Protocol in Spain. This is a draft report. The final report will be ready in the coming months.