Shifting to A Green Economy Can Generate 14 Million New Jobs in Asia

These days, people often see environmental conservation and economic development as being at odds with one another. However, the International Labour Organization (ILO) is challenging this assumption with their recently released report, “World Employment and Social Outlook 2018: Greening with Jobs.”

While transitioning to renewable energy will result in job loss when it comes to the fossil fuel industry, studies by the ILO reveal that a “just transition” to a green economy can generate 14 million new jobs in Asia and the Pacific by 2030. Globally, 24 million jobs will be created—more than enough to offset the 6 million jobs that will be lost in traditional energy sectors.

“The findings of our report underline that jobs rely heavily on a healthy environment and the services that it provides. The green economy can enable millions more people to overcome poverty, and deliver improved livelihoods for this and future generations. This is a very positive message of opportunity in a world of complex choices,” ILO Deputy Director-General Deborah Greenfield says in a press release.

It turns out that the Philippines has already been taking steps to transition to a green economy since 2010, according to the report. In April 2016, the Green Jobs Act was signed into law. The purpose of this law is to promote the creation of green jobs and ensure that workers receive adequate training in these fields. TESDA and its Green Technology Center (which was founded in 2015), along with the Professional Regulation Commission, are required to “develop training regulations and a qualifications framework.” 

In compliance with the Green Jobs Act, the Philippines has “recently adopted its Development Plan 2017–2022, which emphasizes the need for Technical-Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes to meet international standards and match skills demand through quality training provision and certification.”

The report adds that TESDA’s Green Technology Center provides TVET training for the following fields: “photovoltaic systems [basically solar power systems], hydroponics, vertical gardening, landscaping, inverter technology and e-trike servicing.”

The report lists the sectors most relevant to creating a green economy, the new jobs that will be generated, and existing jobs that will be “greenified.” In the Philippines, these areas are the “public sector/green procurement, solid waste management and garbage collection, renewable energy, [and] tourism.” The following jobs will be created or greenified:

• Green procurement managers
• Operators of sanitary landfills
• Project engineers
• Environmental and social safeguard focal persons
• Renewable energy experts
• Hydrologists
• Wind, solar and biomass experts
• Biologists
• Chemists
• Disposal officers
• Solar PV fitters
• Aerospace technicians
• Wind-turbine technicians
• Offshore oil/wind maintenance technicians

If only these plans could be properly implemented, the future of the Philippines as a green economy would certainly look promising.