This report focuses on the employment generation opportunities of measures to reduce carbon dioxide emissions through investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency, and reviews some of the main considerations with respect to advancing effective industrial policies. The report concludes that if most countries devote about 1.5 percent of their economy’s GDP to such investments each year, it will be possible for the global economy to meet the IPCC’s 20-year intermediate emission reduction target, while also enjoying energy security for supporting sustainable growth rates.
It also shows that there are clear net-gains in employment generation in shifting from conventional energy sources to renewable energy sources and enhancing energy efficiency. These gains have wider societal implications, as decent job opportunities are likely to open up for people in the informal sector with low educational attainment levels. Targeted industrial policies will need to help these groups realize such opportunities as well as providing the training and skill acquisition needed for other positions created through green investments.
This report is the first volume in a two volume set. Volume II of the report, covering experiences from Brazil, Germany, Indonesia, the Republic of Korea and South Africa, can be accessed here.