‘Green jobs’ on the increase

As employment in the fossil fuel sector declines, more and more people are finding work in the renewable energy sector and related professions, with the number of 'green jobs' expected to swell considerably in the coming years, says a new study.

"Growing automation and corporate consolidation are already translating into steadily fewer jobs in the oil, natural gas, and coal industries - sometimes even in the face of expanding production," according to the latest 'Vital Signs Update' from the Worldwatch Institute, a Washington DC-based research institute focused on sustainability issues.

Meanwhile, "renewables are poised to tackle our energy crisis and create millions of new jobs worldwide," says Michael Renner, senior researcher at Worldwatch.

In Europe, the promise of millions of new jobs created by the so-called green economy have also been made by top EU officials, including Commission President José Manuel Barroso.

The Commission's package of climate and energy proposals, designed to cut CO2 emissions by 20% while reaching a 20% share of renewables in final energy consumption by 2020, "is an opportunity that should create thousands of new businesses and millions of jobs in Europe," Barroso said during the presentation of the plans on 23 January.

Read full article on the WBCSD website

Source: WBCSD website