DISMUN 2021 Committee: United Nations Development Programme Expert Chair: Titan Chen (Kang Chiao International School) Issue: (302) Promotion of Sustainable Green Jobs ------General Overview of the Topic Climate change is one of the most defining issues in our time. Extreme weathers and irregular climates directly affect lives and varieties of industries. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change published a report in 2017, claiming that in 2050, climate change will induce about 200 million human displacement. This assumption will lead to an impact on the global economy, energy policies, national policymaking, and institutional cooperation. Therefore, transition and implementation should be in action for facing these environmental challenges. In 2008, the United Nations Development Programme, International Labour Organization, International Trade Union Confederation, and International Organisation of Employers jointly introduced the concept of green jobs. The presence of green jobs, aiming to reduce environmental impact and achieve sustainability, flags the first major step on manufacturing conversion. Currently, about 10% of the employees are involved in green tasks. Through the promotion of sustainable green jobs, pursuing a safe healthy environment as the final goal, climate change is directly tackled from the origin. Coordinated with the three Sustainable Development Goals, the United Nations Development Programme has the responsibility to promote green jobs. In the next decade, UNDP targets to bring 400 million potential workforces to join the green industries. While new blood participates in emerging positions, skilled workers then experience conversion. New job opportunities will be created in diverse fields, placing people with specialties in the seat that fulfill the change of industrial requirement. By demonstrating effective local government policy on promoting green jobs to member nations, these precedents allow the national government to formulate executive schemes that raise the percentage of employees to engage in green jobs.
Dominican International School Model United Nations 2021 1 Definition of Key Terms Green Jobs Green jobs are jobs that contribute to environmental protection, achieving protection or restoration of ecosystems. Green jobs can either produce goods or provide services to improve energy efficiency and reduce waste. Examples of green jobs are ecotour guide, environmental lawyer, recycling coordinator, and wind energy engineer. Green Economy The green economy is the concept of building the economy upon the value of natural capital and ecological services and the need to protect natural resources. Besides the environmental approach, the green economy also includes topics related to sustainability and social justice, achieving human-wellbeing and social equity and reducing the threat to our surroundings. Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises are businesses whose revenue or employees are below a number. Each country has its regulation defining SMEs. Most SMEs are non-subsidiary, independent firms. According to the World Bank, 90% of businesses are SMEs, contributing 40% of national income (GDP) in emerging economies. Venture Capital Venture capital is a form of private equity and a type of financing that investors provide to startup companies or SMEs that are believed to have long-term growth potential. Regularly firms and investors establish independent limited partnerships. With the support of venture capital, market diversity could increase. Market-Based Environmental Policy Instrument (MBIs) Market-Based Environmental Policy Instruments are policy instruments that design to influence the behavior of resource users to ensure that resources are used more efficiently. The MBIs mainly focuses on eight economic instruments: Taxes, tradable quotas, joint implementation, subsidies, voluntary agreements, user charges, and environmental liability. By controlling economic variables, it enforces polluters to reduce negative environmental externalities. Employment Effect Employment effect is an economic theory that predicts that higher minimum wage will lead to lower employment. When jobs are displaced in other sectors as a result of greater energy efficiency would be smaller, this leads to net employment effect. Both of these scenarios bring negative effect to the labor market.
Dominican International School Model United Nations 2021 2 Background of the Topic In 1992, the UN Conference on Environment and Development emphasized the necessity for reaching the balance between the economic, social, and environmental dimensions of sustainable development. However, the outcome document did not address how labor issues are linked with energy transition and other future advancements. The same goes for the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the discussion held in Agenda 21 during 1993. The importance of social partners at national and workplace levels were barely mentioned. Due to the lack of analysis and data at the time, the relationship between employment and skills development were neglected.
A decade later, the World Summit of Sustainable Development constructed only a short paragraph about the labor and sustainable development relation into its declaration and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation. Not until 2005, did the World Summit of Sustainable Development finally adopt employment and decent work as their global goal. Since then, the connection between a green society and green jobs became visible.
In 2007, the ILO linked the environment and the world of work with sustainable enterprise. A report by the Director-General referred to the concept of green jobs for the first time. At the same time, UNEP, ITUC, IOE, and ILO established the Green Jobs Initiative. The initiative has its mission to promote opportunity and equity for those who are unemployed and transition programs to those who are interested in green jobs.
In 2008, ILO published the first report under the topic of “the emergence of a green economy and its impact on the world of work”. Because of the global financial and economic crisis, the report suggested a “shift to a low-carbon, environment-friendly economy that helps accelerate the jobs recovery, reduce social gaps and support development goals and realize decent work in the process.” Meanwhile, the idea of ecological economics has become well known by the public through policy marketing. With a comprehensive framework for policy actions focusing on business, policymakers, and the society, it accelerates and scales up a transition toward the green economy.
In 2010, UNFCCC specifically mentioned the transition of the workforce would contribute to building “a low-carbon society that offers substantial opportunities and ensures continued high growth and sustainable development.” A similar concept is mentioned in the future global climate agreement drafted at the end of 2015.
Dominican International School Model United Nations 2021 3 In 2012, the Rio+20 conference emphasized the interlinkages between the economic, social, and environmental pillars. Moreover, the green economy and green jobs were brought up several times aside from the preservation of the environment. After 20 years since 1992, the promotion for green jobs finally got the attention of more than 100 Heads of State and Government and over 400 ministers.
Key Issues Currently, the green industries cooperate with the government to enforce the climate change policies from four different aspects: the creation of additional jobs; substitution of jobs shifts from waste burning to recycling; elimination of jobs; and transformation of current jobs as day-to-day skills and work methods become more sustainable. Moreover, to complete the green transition, cooperation between government and private institutions is a necessity. According to the London School of Economics and Political Science, only 1.2% of the laborers in the globe serve the green economy. This consequence indicates an understaffed market that needs an increase in participation in green jobs. Down below are questions to consider which may be beneficial for the interest of debate. 1. Why should we care about the impact of green growth on employment? a. Will there be a net employment effect? b. What’s the number of green jobs achieved to reach? c. How to control the quality of jobs? 2. What aspects are there that the promotion of sustainable green jobs should focus on? a. What kinds of environmental rules and regulations should be introduced? b. Which aspect of market-based instruments could be beneficial to the growth of green jobs? c. Would supply-side policies help the development of green technology? 3. Can green energy policies create jobs? a. What abilities do the jobs require? b. How to train laborers to fulfill the requirements? c. What extra effects could the green energy policies create? 4. How might green energy policies transform the labor market? a. Will the willingness of getting a green job increase? b. How should (subject) attract more people to accept industrial transformation? c. How to maintain order and protect labor rights under the new green energy policies?
Major Countries and Organizations Involved and Their Positions
Dominican International School Model United Nations 2021 4 International Labour Organization (ILO) The International Labour Organization, formed in 1919, is a specialized agency of the United Nations. Members from governments and social partners from 189 states debate and elaborate labor standards and policies. In 2007, ILO Director-General prioritized the promotion of social transformation to green jobs as a pivotal aspect to focus on. Two years later, ILO established the Green Job Programme to defer climate change from social and political facets. To reduce adverse environmental impacts, the program is composed of seven services: knowledge creation, advocacy, capacity building, diagnostics and prioritization, pilot projects, policy formulation and implementation, knowledge sharing.
Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) The Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development was established in 1961 with 37 member countries, focusing on reducing unnecessary administrative costs. Presently, the organization targets four aspects: employment transition, enactment of the law, investment and innovation in green energy, and education and training programs. With cooperation between ILO, G20, and the European Commission, more than 60% of the OECD assisted countries momentarily have adopted one green growth labor market measure. OECD stated that to adopt the green transformation, 80% of the jobs require a medium and high level of skills with abilities to modify products, services, or operations due to climate change adjustments, requirements or regulations.
Timeline of Events June 5 - 16, 1972 - The United Nations Conference on the Human Environment was held in Stockholm, prompted by the theme of “Technology for freedom: man in his environment.” The Director-General of ILO suggested that “new departures in economic and social policy no less than in policies for science and technology. Environment considerations must form an essential dimension of growth.”
September 1990 - The International Labour Conference of 1990 published a background report, Environment and the world of work.
Dominican International School Model United Nations 2021 5 1994 - 1995 - The Interdepartmental Project on Environment. The Employment and Infrastructure Programme promoted labor-intensive public works for nature conservation, reforestation, sustainable land practices, and construction of all-weather rural roads.
2002 - The ILO adopted the Global Employment Agenda, including a research program to assess the employment consequences of environmentally friendly technologies and patterns of production and consumption.
September 25, 2013 - The ILO’s constituents adopted a Resolution on Sustainable Development, Decent Work and Green Jobs. The paper gave a specific set of guidelines on policies including the labor market and skills.
November 4, 2016 - The signing of the Paris Climate Agreement, led by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The agreement drafted a provision to ensure decent work and social protection across society when ambitious climate policies are adopted.
Important, Relevant Documents ● Promoting Green Jobs: Decent Work in the Transition to Low-Carbon, Green Economics: The document, drafted by the ILO, is an international development policy delving into the topic of the future of work, tackling the relationship between climate change and jobs. The paper suggests that employment transition and educational training are essential to promote green jobs. ● Green Jobs Act of 2007: The Green Jobs Act of 2007 amended the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, authorizing 125 million funds to both national and state training programs. As a component of the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act, the Green Jobs Act sets the foundation for energy efficiency projects and renewable energy investments. ● Green Jobs: Impacts of a Green Economy on Employment: The report, published by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), explained the concept of green economy and green jobs, policy instruments, managing transition, employment promotion, and empirical results. Information contained in this document is beneficial for drafting solutions focused on the policy which encourages employment.
Dominican International School Model United Nations 2021 6 ● Green Jobs: Towards decent work in a sustainable, low-carbon world: A collaborated outcome document written by UNEP, ILO, OIE, and ITUC. The text concentrates on practical solutions related to green policies, business practices, new products, and employment impacts on six different fields. Lastly, it gives an overview of the future expectations and visions on the employment transition. ● Paris Climate Agreement: Paris Climate Agreement is a legally binding international UN treaty, under the UNFCCC, on climate change. This treaty concentrates on economic and social transformations to face the challenge now and in the future. The agreement is based on a five-year cycle focusing on increasingly ambitious climate action. The Paris Agreement also builds a framework on financial, technical, and capacity building which provides support to countries who need it.
Previous Attempted Solutions The Zambia Green Jobs Programme (2013-2018) The Zambia Green Jobs Programme is an intervention spanning three main objectives that are expected to contribute to the final intention of creating more sustainable enterprises and decent green jobs. The first category is aimed at changing mindsets and attitudes towards increasing appreciation of green construction. The second category is aimed at promoting an enabling business environment that allows sustainable private sector development. The third category is focused on the creation of sustainable micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises that create decent green jobs. In 2015, the scholars from the Donor Committee for Enterprise Development had analyzed the program and stated six outcomes and impacts. The program had shown positive results by achieving a more sustainable access to timber which decreased business risk and costs in the long run through secured continued access. However, improvements still could be made. By cooperating with major organizations and private sectors, the program can be more effective. ● The level of ownership among stakeholders, including the private sector and the Zambia public sector, was remarkably high. This is showcased by the high number of private sector driven ‘spin- off’ projects. ● The Coordination mechanism between the various parts of the programme worked well. ● However, the design failed to fully incorporate the financial dimension (risk management, access to capital) and needed a more exclusive focus on growth-ready MSMEs.
Dominican International School Model United Nations 2021 7 ● Effectiveness of the Zambia Green Job programme in terms of achievement of outputs was largely on schedule, except for occupational safety and health (OSH), finance and business linkages targets. ● In terms of sustainability, there is a risk that sustainable production of timber cannot keep up with increased demand; in addition, many stakeholders still view the green industry as expensive. ● Sustainability is further at risk with trained construction MSMEs complaining that there is not enough subsequent demand to actually use their skills.
The ILO’s Green Jobs Programme The ILO listed guidance for the member countries to transition to a low-carbon economy. The Green Jobs Programme covers fields like education, finance, labor markets, legal and property rights, technology, and infrastructure. Furthermore, the ILO will supply policy advisory services and financial support to assist a firm transition. Besides, identifying skill gaps and anticipating and monitoring changing skills needs, the ILO could accurately provide support to fill up the insufficient. Not only by training current workers, but the ILO has also tended to build a “greener” community while promoting green jobs and introducing future planning. ● Provides evidence-based policy advice using macro-economic models to assess the impacts of economic and environmental policies on employment and social outcomes for the formulation and implementation of effective national or sectoral policies that create green jobs, foster social inclusion and improve sustainability. ● Builds capacity by providing stakeholders with opportunities to learn about key green jobs concepts, suitable approaches, existing tools and best practices; ● Focuses on enterprise and skills development for technical skills, environmental sector employment, green business start-ups, greening enterprises and sectoral interventions in construction, waste, energy, tourism, forestry and agriculture, among others; ● Works towards building a broader knowledge base by promoting and participating in leading global policy research and knowledge networks; ● Advocates for the integration of decent work and climate agendas by engaging in dialogues and key negotiation processes.
Possible Solutions Possible solutions for the promotion of sustainable green jobs could be delivered by three main sectors: policy-making, skills development, and social inclusion. In the policy-making aspect, increasing policy between employment and environmental goals, and policy-oriented research are necessary.
Dominican International School Model United Nations 2021 8 Besides, governments could set policies impacting on four main channels: production modes, demand patterns, aggregate income, and macroeconomic conditions, and trade and competition. For the skills development plans, supports like intervention models and technical cooperation programs that contribute to climate change education and training could be provided. Meanwhile, imply rates of labor reallocation or rates of change in job skill demands for the labor market to achieve a flexible green transition. Lastly, in social inclusion, nations should increase public understanding of green jobs and how it relates to climate change, targeting youth, women, and medium-high skill laborers. Furthermore, links the intervention with local employment opportunities to maximize the efficiency in training specialties that the community needs most.
Dominican International School Model United Nations 2021 9 Bibliography
Corporativa, I. Green jobs: good for you, for the environment and for the economy. Iberdrola. https://www.iberdrola.com/environment/what-are-green-jobs.
Egypt: Green jobs promotion for youth. (2014, July 29). https://www.ilo.org/global/topics/green- jobs/projects/africa/WCMS_250675/lang--en/index.htm.
Environment and Green Jobs (Decent work for sustainable development (DW4SD) Resource Platform). https://www.ilo.org/global/topics/dw4sd/themes/green-jobs/lang--en/index.htm.
Frequently Asked Questions on green jobs. (2014, February 11). http://www.oit.org/global/topics/green-jobs/WCMS_214247_EN/lang--en/index.htm.
Kurtuy, A. (2020, December 9). 2020 Guide to Green Careers - All You Need to Know. Novorésumé. https://novoresume.com/career-blog/green-careers.
Skills for Green Jobs. (2009, October 22). https://www.ilo.org/skills/projects/WCMS_115959/lang- -en/index.htm.
United Nations. (2012, December 14). Green growth and jobs for youth For Youth. United Nations. https://www.un.org/development/desa/youth/green-growth-and-jobs-for-youth.html.
van der Ree, K. (2019, June 1). Promoting Green Jobs: Decent Work in the Transition to Low- Carbon, ...https://journals.openedition.org/poldev/3107.
What is a green job ? (2016, April 13). https://www.ilo.org/global/topics/green- jobs/news/WCMS_220248/lang--en/index.htm.
Dominican International School Model United Nations 2021 10