Q&A

Zooming in on the safety and health dimension of greening the economy

23 April 2012

The 2012 World Day for Safety and Health at Work focuses on the promotion of occupational safety and health (OSH) in a green economy. The shift to a green economy is perceived as a way to reconcile the world’s economic and social needs with environmental sustainability. However, even if certain jobs are considered to be “green”, the technologies used may protect the environment but not be safe at all. In this interview, Ms Manuela Tomei, Director of the ILO Labour Protection Department (PROTRAV), looks at the less visible dimension of green jobs and the greening of traditional sectors.

News

3rd Intersessional Meeting of UNCSD, UN Secretariat

26 March 2012

The third open-ended informal intersessional meeting of the Preparatory Committee for the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development will be held on Monday, 26 March, and Tuesday, 27 March 2012, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 3 to 6 p.m. in the Economic and Social Council Chamber (NLB). As this meeting is an informal one, no formal list of speakers will be maintained or opened for pre-inscription. Members of permanent missions, United Nations staff, and representatives of intergovernmental organizations and major groups are invited to attend.

News

Eastern Europe and Central Asia should transition toward sustainable development now or pay more in the future, says UN report

23 March 2012

Eastern Europe and Central Asia need to remove fossil fuel subsidies, invest in ‘green’ jobs, and establish social protection floors to ensure a sustainable future. These were some of the findings from a new UN report “From Transition to Transformation”, launched in Istanbul, Turkey at the first Global Human Development Forum.

Event

World Day for Safety and Health at Work in 2012: Promoting safety and health in a green economy

The 2012 World Day for Safety and Health at Work focuses on the promotion of occupational safety and health (OSH) in a green economy. There is a shift in the world to a greener and more sustainable economy. However, even if certain jobs are considered to be “green”, the technologies used may protect the environment but not be safe at all.

News

Green Job creation in Mauritius

22 February 2012

The ILO Green Jobs Programme organized a national workshop on green jobs creation on 22 and 23 February 2012. During this workshop, Government representatives, as well as employers’ and workers’ organizations discussed the results of four national assessments on green job creation conducted during the past months and developed a strategy to integrate the creation of green jobs into the national development strategy.

News

New UNRISD Film on "Green Economy and Sustainable Development: Bringing Back the Social"

10 February 2012

Green Economy and Sustainable Development: Bringing Back the Social is the first of six films in the series "Bringing the Social to Rio+20". The film uses footage from recordings and interviews from the 2011 UNRISD conference, "Green Economy and Sustainable Development: Bringing Back the Social Dimension". It explores green economy's potential as a path to inclusive, sustainable development and poverty eradication.

News

World Youth Report 2011 Indicates Youth Interest in Green Jobs

10 February 2012

The UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) has released the 2011 World Youth Report. The Report centers on the contributions from people aged 15-30, through an online consultation process regarding youth employment. Discussions revealed concern that educational systems are not preparing youth to compete for jobs, as well as young people’s interest in climate change, social equity, and innovation in green technologies and communications. Among the emerging opportunities for youth employment, participants identified the field of environmental sustainability, or “green jobs,” and many said their ideal job would be to work in, or create, green jobs.

News

Governments and workers discuss opportunities for green jobs in the area of climate change mitigation

16 December 2011

In the margins of the UNFCCC conference in Durban, the International Labour Organization and the UN Institute for Training and Research organized social talks on "Green Jobs and Mitigation to Climate Change"

Questions and Answers

Questions and answers on food security

13 December 2011

Recent food price shocks threaten some 1 billion people with hunger. Meanwhile, there is growing evidence that climate change, along with rampant commodity speculation and lack of social protection are contributing to widespread food insecurity, resulting in hunger, poverty and even increased child labour. ILO On-line talked to Marva Corley-Coulibaly and Uma Rani Amara, senior economists at the ILO International Institute for Labour Studies about the growing concerns over food insecurity, and what urgent actions are needed to address the crisis.

Press release

ILO Asia and the Pacific Regional Meeting concludes with Recommendations to counter employment consequences of global economic turmoil

07 December 2011

Representatives of governments, workers and employers from the Asian, Pacific and Arab states have concluded a four day meeting at which they discussed ways the region could prepare to counter the consequences of the current economic uncertainty.