A ACTRAV/ITC-ILO Course Trade Union Training on Capacity Building for Promoting Decent Work Towards Decent Work in a Sustainable and Low-Carbon World

Structure of the Presentation The presentation is structured as follows: Context Consequences Is this Truly the Cost of Development? Environmental Issues and Social Issues Key Points to Note Green Jobs Initiative The ILO Mandate What does the Green Jobs Initiatives bring into the Environmental Debate Sustainable Development vs Green Economy Defining Green Jobs The Triple Bottom Line of Sustainability Sectors with Potential for Green Jobs Creation Employment Impact of the Shift towards Green Economy Some Fundamental Concerns Why A Just Transition? DWCPs and Green Jobs Initiative Success is when…

CONTEXT Interaction between the various components of the planet’s climate system

Continues… Empirical evidence has shown that the current so-called development growth model is unsustainable: -Environmentally; -Economically; -Socially unsustainable; -Employment-wise. The global environmental crisis has triggered imbalances among the 3 pillars of Sustainable Development namely: -Economic development; -Social development; -Ecological preservation. The EARTH do not have the capacity to withstand the current model of production and consumption – this is a challenge that has be addressed by organise labour.

Consequences Depletion of the planet earth at a much faster rate than it can regenerate itself. Climate change and global warming. Pollution of the environment. Destruction of biodiversity. Serious implications for both quantity & quality of jobs. Environmental debt towards future generations. Endangering of the continuity of humanity (political, economic, social, cultural, food, employment, trade union dimensions, etc.)

Is this Truly the Cost for Development? 1.4 billion people are currently living in extreme poverty, struggling to survive on less than US$ 1.25 a day; 200 million people are currently unemployed; 75% of the world’s people have insufficient or no access to social security; 1.5 billion people have no access to safe drinking water; 2.6 billion people (i.e. 40% of the world’s population) lacks adequate sanitation; 3 billion people (i.e. nearly 50% of the world’s population) have no access to clean cooking energy; 1.6 billion people have no electricity;

Environmental Issues: Human use of natural resources and the resulting climate conditions are making our environment vulnerable and uncertain AtmosphereLand use Oceans 10% of the world‘s population (600 million people) live in low lying areas vulnerable to sea level rise (3) Since the Neolithic Revolution about 47% of the world‘s forests have been lost to human use (2) The World Health Organization states that 2.4 million people die each year from causes directly attributable to air pollution (1) Source: (1) "Estimated deaths & DALYs attributable to selected environmental risk factors, by WHO Member State, 2002". Retrieved (2) World Resources Institute (1998). World Resources 1998–1999. Oxford: Oxford University Press (3) IWA WaterWiki 2010.

9 Environmental Issues: The excessive consumption and poor management of key resources is contributing to a yet more vulnerable world Energy Water Waste In 2008, the EU-27 produced about million tonnes of waste, of which 37% was hazardous. Relative to the size of the population, that averaged 5,300 kg per inhabitant (3) Only half of the population of Africa has access to clean water leading to thousands of deaths per day (2) To meet the energy demand of all households worldwide, energy supplies must double by 2050 (1) Source: (1) “Deciding the Future: Energy Policy Scenarios to 2050” World Energy Council 2007, (2) Waterfacts. Water.org 2011, (3) European Commission’s Eurostat

Jobs and Labour Hazardous work is increasing among older children, aged 15–17. Within four years, it jumped 20 per cent – from 52 million to 62 million. Boys outnumber girls by two to one in this age group 1 Peace, security and social justice Social disruptions like war, crime and corruption divert resources from areas of greatest human need, damage the capacity of societies to plan for the future, and threaten human well-being and the environment 2 Sources: (1) ILO’s Hazardous Child Labour Report 2011, (2) Blewitt (2008), (3) UNESCO’s Education For All Progress Monitoring Report 2010 Education Conflict has far-reaching consequences in education. While Liberia now has peace and stability, 447,000 of its children were out of school in 2008 – an increase of almost 180,000 over Social Issues: Child labour and lack of access to education remain strong blockers of economic and human development in many regions

The poorest 40 percent of the world’s population accounts for 5 percent of global income, while the richest 20 percent accounts for 75 percent Source: UN Human Development Report Population Living on Less than 1 Dollar per Day

Continues… Many jobs remain “dirty, dangerous and difficult” with workers in industries such as recycling, waste management, biomass energy and construction facing hazardous working conditions and substandard wages Increase in income inequality in the past two decades, both in North and South Aspirations for clean environment, jobs, better life, freedom and social justice are triggering social unrests across the world.

Key Points to Note The whole idea that the depletion of natural resources is the “necessary cost” for achieving development is not confirmed by reality. We are not making progress on equity or freedom, and in the meantime, we are wasting the planet. The model of development of the rich is not generalizable to all. Investing in “green” measures during these times of economic crisis may deliver a “double-dividend” by providing jobs and revitalising the economy, while also contributing to the improvement of the environment.

Green Jobs Initiative Green Jobs Initiative, started in 2007, is a joint initiative by: -International Labour Organisation (ILO) -United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) -International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) -International Employers’ Organisation (IOE) – came on-board in 2008 The objective of the Green Jobs Initiative is to help countries in realising the potential for green jobs and positive labour market transition in the face of climate change. The Green Jobs Initiative responds to the dual challenge of climate change and decent work deficits.

Continues… “The mounting cost of energy- intensive production and consumption patterns is widely recognised. It is timely to move towards a high-employment, low carbon economy. Green jobs hold the promise of a triple dividend: sustainable enterprises; poverty reduction; and job-centred economic recovery.” Mr. Juan Somavia, Former Director General of the ILO, March 2009

The ILO Mandate ILO is a tripartite specialized UN agency, dedicated to bringing decent work and livelihoods, job-related security and better living standards to workers all around the world through the DWA. ILO’s Decent Work Agenda consists of four strategic objectives: -Promote and realise standards and fundamental principles and rights at work; -Create greater opportunities for women and men to secure decent employment and income; -Enhance the coverage and effectiveness of social protection for all; -Strengthen tripartism and social dialogue. ILO Green Jobs programme is a crosscutting initiative combining elements from each of the four strategic areas.

What does the Green Jobs Initiative bring into the Environmental Debate? The Green Jobs Initiative brings employment, labour market and social justice perspectives into the environmental and climate change discussion. ILO Green Jobs Initiative promotes better balance between the three pillars of sustainable development (i.e. economic growth, social progress and ecological preservation). The ‘greening’ of the economy is a positive step towards a cleaner planet, decent work for all and sustainable development.

LOW CARBON GROWTH RESOURCE EFFICIENCY SOCIAL INCLUSIVITY SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT ? GREEN ECONOMY Sustainable Development vs. Green Economy

Defining Green Jobs Green Jobs are work in agriculture, manufacturing, research and development, administration, and service activities that contribute substantially to preserving or restoring environmental quality. They are Jobs that help to: -Protect ecosystems and biodiversity; -Reduce energy, material and water consumption through high efficiency strategies; -De-carbonize the economy; -Minimize or altogether avoid generation of all forms of waste and pollution.

20 Source: Viable Bearable Equitable Sustainable The Triple Bottom Line of Sustainability

Sectors with Potentials for Green Jobs Creation Sustainable Agriculture and Forestry Renewable Energy: Wind, Solar, Biomass, Hydro Recycling and Waste Management Mobility: Mass Transportation Environmental Services

Agriculture Manufacturing Services

Employment Impact of Shift towards Green Economy New jobs will be created e.g. as in manufacturing of pollution control devices Some employment will be substituted e.g. as in shifting from fossil fuels to renewables Certain jobs may be eliminated e.g. as when packing materials are discouraged or banned and their production is discontinued Many jobs will be transformed and redefined e.g. new skill sets, work methods and profiles

Some Fundamental Concerns Capacity building in terms of skills development for green jobs Technology transfer Transition in employment structures and in workplaces Gender issues Safe and healthy working conditions Just transition Equitable distribution of jobs Equal access to green jobs Rights protection and respect for good labour practices Social dialogue Sustainable environmental practices State, market and civil society dynamics

Green, but not decent Examples:  Electronics recycling without adequate occupational safety  Low-wage installers of solar panels  Exploited biofuel plantation laborers Green and decent Examples:  Unionized wind and solar power jobs  Green architects  Well-paid public transit workers Neither green nor decent Examples:  Coal mining with inadequate safety  Women workers in cut flower industry  Hog slaughterhouse workers Decent, but not green Examples:  Unionized car manufacturing workers  Chemical engineers  Airline pilots Decent Work Environment Green and Decent Jobs? A Schematic Overview

Why A Just Transition? Transition phase is likely to entail some challenges: Within certain key economic sectors that accounts for 1.5 billions workers or half of the global workforce; For certain group of workers. Therefore, a Just Transition is necessary to: Ensure consultations and involvement of social partners; Ensure that employment, decent work and social inclusion are integral parts of the shift towards a greener economy; Achieve a transition that buffers the downside risks by tackling social, environmental and economic issues through an integrated approach; Ensure respect for rights at work;

Continues… Promote social & labour market policies, which are essential for SD; Promote skills and education policies to facilitate job transition and improve employability; Ensure equitable outcomes for women and men; Guarantee social protection & assistance for the most vulnerable; Promote social dialogue and CB to ensure that the creation of jobs in quantity and of quality is at the heart of a greener economy; Ensure regular investment in research on the impact of environmental degradation on jobs and livelihoods; Facilitate the transfer of technology to developing countries to deal with climate change impacts and meet their developmental priorities; Encourage partnerships and networking among stakeholders at all levels; Promote structural transformation: Industrial Policies, Industrial Development, Value Addition, Economic Diversification and conducive climate to rekindle the growth of infant industries.

DWCPs and Green Jobs Initiative DWCP is the vehicle for delivery of ILO cooperation in a specific country – links priorities of the constituents and the ILO – is expected to be formulated through a tripartite participatory process. Trade unions can use the DWCPs as a platform to work on Green Jobs Initiatives. It would be important to know: -Who is involved in DWCPs at country level? -Are there Green Jobs Initiatives under DWCP? - Can social partners work together on this? - Which policies/activities/projects are related to green jobs? -Which kind of capacity building initiatives can ILO support?

Continues… Trade unions can use the DWCPs as leverage to promote work on Green Jobs Initiatives; unions need to: -Adopt a position and on Green Economy & Decent Work; -Invest in knowledge development on the impact of the environmental crisis on employment and livelihoods; -Hone their competencies on the Green Economy, Decent Work, Social Dialogue and CB issues; -Demand and ensure respect for Rights at Work; -Demand real Social Dialogue on the Green Economy; -Demand the inclusion of the Green Job Initiatives into the DWCPs.

Success is when… The TUM is transformed into a Critical Mass with clout and competent capacity to: -Establish a link between DWA & environmental protection; -Defend and promote social justice & protect workers’ rights; -Negotiate improve working conditions; -Advocate for SP to tackle poverty, inequality & social exclusions; -Forge alliances and networking relationships with other actors; -Demand real structural transformation: sound Ind policies + Ind devt; -Achieve the inclusion of the Green Jobs Initiatives into the DWCPs; -Ensure rule of law and good governance, including the fight against corruption; -Ensure allocation of adequate and predictable funding for the implementation of the DWCPs.

Together We Can Sustain Planet Earth

The End! Any Questions?