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Working towards sustainable development: Opportunities for decent work and social inclusion in a green economy

A green economy is necessary if sustainable development is to be realized. According to this new released report by the ILO’s Global Green Jobs Programme, the world’s transition to a greener economy, coupled by the right policy mix, could generate up to 60 million additional jobs globally over the next two decades and lift tens of millions of workers out of poverty. A new development model – one which puts people, fairness and the planet at the core of policy-making – is urgently needed, and is eminently achievable. More fundamentally, the report demonstrates that employment and social inclusion must be integral parts of any sustainable development strategy and must be included in policies that address climate change and ensure the preservation of the environment. In particular, the report assesses the sectoral, employment and income implications of the transition to a green economy. It highlights the necessary conditions, policy prescriptions and good practices required to ensure that the green economy is characterized by gains in job quality, reductions in poverty and improvements in social inclusion.