Climate investment for build better workforce, greener future

Climate and environmental literacy can help create jobs, build a green consumer market and allow citizens to better engage with their governments about climate change. 

As the world celebrates Earth Day , the International Labour Organization (ILO) has called for urgent worldwide action on climate change, including the need to support climate education and awareness raising.

The transition to a carbon-neutral economy will require new skills, training and qualifications. Many new jobs will emerge. Others will have to adapt. This makes climate education for the current and future workforce a priority that countries need to urgently address.

“The effects of climate change will alter the structure of employment. New jobs and new job families will emerge, others will disappear or become unsustainable, and enterprises will have to find ways to organize work and production differently,” said ILO Director-General, Guy Ryder. “We need to prepare the youth to this changing world. Environmental education can empower students to solve the climate crisis and develop the skills, optimism and resolve to lead the environmental movement of tomorrow.” 

Ryder praised Earthday.org and its partners, the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and Education International (EI) for highlighting the issue of climate education on Earth Day.

“Climate education and awareness raising are key to making a just transition to green economies that guarantee a sustainable future for current and new generations,” he said.

The ILO estimates that rising heat due to climate change could lead to the loss of 80 million jobs by 2030, with poor countries worst hit. Taking ambitious action to tackle climate change can deliver more and better jobs, with a potential for 18 million net jobs by 2030, through measures in the energy sector.

Enterprises will need well-trained workers, equipped with the right set of skills to reduce the carbon-intensity of production. They will need to invest in preparing their workers for new and challenging technical and technological change, making the workplace a place of continuous learning in the ecological transition.

Social dialogue is also an essential tool in ensuring a smooth shift in occupational skills training to facilitate workers’ mobility and ensure their social protection in a rapidly changing world of work.

The upcoming UN climate conference COP26 , to be hosted by the United Kingdom, will be an important time to reiterate the importance of climate literacy, because only the right educational tools will prepare the current and future workforce to meet the challenges of climate change.