Climate change and jobs
Why does climate change matter for employment ?
By contrast, if properly managed, climate change action can lead to more and better jobs. Both adaptation to climate change and measures to mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions offer opportunities to create new jobs, while securing existing ones.
A transition to a low-carbon, greener economy will imply the creation of new jobs in environmentally friendly production processes and outputs, whereas other jobs will be at risk, in particular in those sectors with fewer options for a transition towards a more sustainable ways of production.
For more information, please see a FAQ on climate change and jobs.
Highlights
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The ILO and the United Nations Climate Change Conference - COP25
The twenty-fifth session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP25) organized by Chile, will be held in Madrid on 2-13 December 2019. The ILO will bring to the table the importance of the social and political drivers for a successful and rapid transition into more respectful economies, and will also be presenting the 'Climate Action for Jobs Initiative' an action plan resulted from the Climate Action Summit 2019.
The ILO and UNFCCC process
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Katowize
The ILO and the United Nations Climate Change Conference - COP24
The twenty-four session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP24) will be held in Katowice, Poland on 2-14 December 2018. As an observer organization, the ILO seeks to contribute to global negotiations and national actions against climate change, while promoting opportunities for decent work creation and ensuring a just transition for all.
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Marrakesh
The ILO and the COP22
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Paris
ILO welcomes new climate change agreement committing nations to a just transition and the creation of decent work
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Bonn
Climate and jobs in focus as negotiators streamline the text for Paris
2015
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Lima
The ILO engages in climate change at Lima Conference and beyond
2014
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Durban
ILO calls for stronger coherence between labour and climate agendas
2011
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Cancun
Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
2010
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Copenhagen
The ILO in Copenhagen: Climate change @ work
2009
Key resources
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Guidelines for a just transition towards environmentally sustainable economies and societies for all
The Guidelines are both a policy framework and a practical tool to help countries at all levels of development manage the transition to low-carbon economies and can also help them achieve their INDCs and the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
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ILC 2013
Report of the Committee on Sustainable Development, Decent Work and Green Jobs
The report presents the outcomes of the ILC discussions on sustainable development, decent work and green jobs, held in June 2013 in Geneva.
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Providing clean energy and energy access through cooperatives
This publication is a collection of case studies on cooperatives in energy production, distribution and consumption as a contribution to the on-going search for ways in which the goal of sustainable Energy for All can be turned into a reality.
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Local Investments in Climate Change Adaptation: Green Jobs through Green Works
A guide for identifying, designing and implementing interventions in support of climate change adaptation at the local level.
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Towards an ILO Approach to Climate Change Adaptation
This working paper explores the implications of climate change, its impacts on the world of work and the need for the work of the International Labour Office to adapt to it. It takes stock of the on-going work and identifies the needs for further development.
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The Social Dimensions of Climate Change
The paper addresses the social dimensions of climate change from a sustainable, equitable development perspective. It aims to broaden and deepen policy-makers’ understanding of the benefits of addressing and incorporating the social dimensions of climate change into climate policies. In doing so, the paper identifies a number of knowledge gaps within the social, human and natural sciences that need to be filled in order to further strengthen policy responses.
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Climate Change and Labour: The Need for a "Just Transition"
Climate change is now widely acknowledged as one of the great – if not the greatest – challenges facing humanity in the coming decades. Through its impact on average temperature, precipitations and sea levels, it will endanger the livelihood of hundreds of millions and impose increasing costs on our societies if nothing is done.
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The social and Decent Work dimensions of a new Agreement on Climate Change - A technical brief
The technical brief highlights the close inter-linkages between climate change and the world of work and discusses entry points for promoting policy coherence between climate and social and labour policies.
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The Employment Effects of Climate Change and Climate Change Responses: A Role for International Labour Standards?
This paper describes how International Labour Standards could be made more relevant to climate change in terms of its impact on employment and the labour market.