Securing our Future, Planning for Climate change

As the worlds financial markets plunge into crisis, United Nations leaders and top economists are working on a new Green deal to create millions of jobs, revive the world economy, reduce poverty and avert environmental disaster.

A new, landmark study on the impact of an emerging global "green economy" on the world of work says efforts to tackle climate change could result in the creation of millions of new "green jobs" in the coming decades.
The new report entitled Green Jobs: Towards Decent work in a Sustainable, Low-Carbon World, says changing patterns of employment and investment resulting from efforts to reduce climate change and its effects are already generating new jobs in many sectors and economies, and could create millions more in both developed and developing countries.
Green jobs reduce the environmental impact of enterprises and economic sectors, ultimately to levels that are sustainable. The report focuses on "green jobs" in agriculture, industry, services and administration that contribute to preserving or restoring the quality of the environment. The promise of a green technological and industrial revolution is at hand; a new age of green economics and truly sustainable development. But have we the political will to support it?
The possibility of a shift to renewable sources of energy is now available to us along with more efficient public transport, energy conservation and sustainable development. But have we the political will to transform our economy and society? The shift to a greener economy needs urgent assistance; there is no trade off in waiting for the economy to improve as the costs of inaction – in ecological, human and financial terms – will far exceed the costs of action now.
The report says that climate change itself, adaptation to it and efforts to arrest it by reducing emissions have far-reaching implications for economic and social development, for production and consumption patterns and thus for employment, incomes and poverty reduction. These implications harbour both major risks and opportunities for working people in all countries, but particularly for the most vulnerable in the least developed countries and in small island States.
Dr Pachauri, Chairman of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Head said “the world has reached an unprecedented level of awareness of the science behind climate change, with the contents of the IPCC’s fourth assessment disseminated extensively by the media worldwide. A growing number of people- and not just environmentalists- now believe that climate change is not a concern for the distant future but something we are witnessing here and now. Never before has human society been gripped by such a strong realisation of the need to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels- and even change our lifestyles- in order to reduce emissions of CO2 and other greenhouse gases”
According to the report meaningful social dialogue between government, workers and employers will be essential not only to ease tensions and support better informed and more coherent environmental, economic and social policies, but for all social partners to be involved in the development of such policies.
However, the report also finds that the process of climate change, already underway, will continue to have negative effects on workers and their families, especially those whose livelihoods depend on agriculture and tourism. Action to tackle climate change as well as to cope with its effects is therefore urgent.

The report finds that green markets have thrived and transformation has advanced most where there has been strong and consistent political support at the highest level, including targets, penalties and incentives such as feed-in laws and efficiency standards for buildings and appliances as well as proactive research and development.
In reference to the current international financial turmoil and its implications for climate change Dr Pachauri noted that “What we have today is no routine downturn in the conventional economic cycle. It is, and is seen to be, the crossroads in human progress that compels a major turn in direction. I believe the current generation is ready for such a shift and is unlikely to be distracted for long by an economic downturn that emanates from serious systemic distortions in the existing patterns of growth”
The report calls for the delivery of a deep and decisive new climate agreement when countries meet for the crucial UN climate convention meeting in Copenhagen in late 2009 will be vital for accelerating green job growth. These and other matters will be addressed in be addressed at the Partnership for Change Climate Change Conference to be held in Cork on the 14th Nov next.
The report was funded and commissioned by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) under a joint Green Jobs Initiative with the International Labour Office (ILO), and the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and the International Organization of Employers (IOE), which together represent millions of workers and employers worldwide. It was produced by the Worldwatch Institute, with technical assistance from the Cornell University Global Labour Institute. Dr Pachauri is Chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and is Director General of The Energy &Resources Institute (TERI)