Shifting to a green economy affects and transforms economic sectors. New sectors emerge (renewable energy, green services). Energy intensive industries, the most exposed activities, are likely to decline (energy, pul and paper, steel, chemical); ‘green’ sectors to expand (recycling, eco-tourism). Most sectors will evolve (manufacturing, construction, transport). This induces strong implications for re-skilling and re-tooling the various actors of an economy. Partnering with constituents and other agencies, the ILO has taken action in this perspective.

The Green Jobs Initiative is a global partnership established in 2007 between the ILO, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC). The International Organization of Employers (IOE) joined in 2008.

The initiative was launched to promote opportunity, equity, and a just transition process to a greener development path, and to encourage governments, employers, and workers to collaborate on coherent policies and effective programmes that will support a green economy, with green jobs and decent work for all.

The Green Jobs Initiative assists in developing job-centred environmentally sustainable policies that contribute to the recovery from global economic and social crises. Decent work and environmental performance of economic actors are promoted in mutually supportive ways, as well as the expansion of an employment-rich green economy.