The 2007 International Labour Conference report and conclusions on sustainable enterprises address several economic, social and environmental aspects which are to be taken into account in order for businesses to be sustainable. The main purpose of the present paper is to illustrate the environmental elements of a strategy towards the creation of sustainable enterprises by highlighting impacts on employment of different environmental instruments and policies.
Approximately two million Americans are employed in sectors such as water management, agriculture, and disaster preparedness and response that contribute to building resilience to the impacts of climate change. Through investments in climate change resilience, we can proactively reduce the impact of natural disasters and drive economic growth. By spurring the development and deployment of new technologies and strategies such as efficient irrigation systems and early flood and storm warning systems we can save lives in the poor communities most vulnerable to climate change—and create jobs in the process.
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.
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.