Sustainable Jobs - A Recent Summary

A sustainable economy is based on economic activity where limited resources cycle endlessly, cheap and abundant energy is renewable and harvested and deployed on a centralized and dispersed basis, toxic materials are not allowed to cycle through the biosphere, and agriculature is organic, local and industrial-scaled, but not industrially toxic and fossil-fuel-based.  Jobs based on the present economy's unsustainable principles of production and consumption are doomed for loss. Jobs involved in the R&D and production of the transition to and maintenance and enhancement of a highly prosperous sustainable economy will grow and endure. The following report from the WorldWatch Institute summarizes some recent U.N and WWI findings on the topic.

Cross-Posting: From World Watch Instittue: http://www.worldwatch.org/node/5840?emc=el&m=165635&l=4&v=6927f7d54f

Photo courtesy of Steven King

Ronnie Goldberg (International Organization of Employers), Achim Steiner (UNEP), Juan Somavia (ILO), Guy Ruder (International Trade Union Confederation), and Nick Nutall (UNEP) at the Green Jobs report launch.In 2007 and 2008, Worldwatch Senior Researcher Michael Renner, in collaboration with the Cornell University's Global Labor Institute, carried out a state-of-the-art review of green jobs funded and commissioned by the UN Environment Programme under a joint Green Jobs Initiative with the International Labour Office, the International Trade Union Confederation, and the International Organization of Employers.

The report, Green Jobs: Towards Decent Work in a Sustainable, Low-Carbon World, is the first comprehensive compilation of global green jobs trends and prospects. In October 2008, Worldwatch released its report Green Jobs: Working for People and the Environment, which summarizes thelarger report for a general audience. Green Jobsdescribes the state-of-play ofgreen employment inrenewable energy, buildings, transportation, basic industry, recycling, farming, and forestry.

Working with its partner organizations, the Worldwatch Institute provides high-quality data and analysis that demonstrates the positive linkages between environment, employment, and livelihoods. The Institute's research highlights opportunities and success stories and identifies the policies needed to overcome existing barriers to green jobs development.

Publications & Resources:

• Worldwatch report: Green Jobs: Working for People and the Environment
• UNEP/ILO Report: Green Jobs: Towards Decent Work in a Sustainable, Low-Carbon World
• "Jobs in Renewable Energy Expanding," Vital Signs Online, July 2008.
• Worldwatch Paper 152: Working for the Environment: A Growing Source of Jobs
• Worldwatch Paper 104: Jobs in a Sustainable Economy
• State of the World 2000: "Creating Jobs, Preserving the Environment"
• "Going to Work for Wind Power," World Watch Magazine, January/February 2001

Recent Green Jobs Analysis and Commentary from Worldwatch:

• The Greening of Labor (A three-part series by Ben Block, July/August 2008)
• Michael Renner, "Putting the ‘Green' Back in Greenbacks: Economic Stimulus Package Misses Mark," January 28, 2008.
• Una Song, "Policymakers Recognize Value of "Green" Job Creation," October 17, 2007.