Green and Decent Work in South Africa Ana Belén Sánchez 20 November 2012 Johannesburg (South Africa)

Objectives of the workshop: -Learn about the concept of Green Jobs and how is related to the relation with the union movement. -Learn what South Africa is doing in this field. -Experiences of trade unions in other countries on this matter -Learn from each other! Share your views with the others!

What are Green Jobs? Decent jobs that reduce the environmental impact of processes, sectors and companies. Manufacturers, installers and maintenance of solar water heaters, wind farms, PV solar panels. Waste management and recycling Water supply, management and treatment Public transport Organic farmers and many others

Green and Decent Jobs The importance of green and decent jobs in setting the pathway towards sustainable development Triple benefit: –Social – decent work, poverty eradication, social inclusion –Economic – viable enterprises and sectors –Environmental - climate change resilience, low-emission development, stable natural environment and lasting biodiversity

What do we mean by reducing “environmental” impacts? Main environmental problems the world is facing (local and global effects): –Climate change –Natural resource depletion: water, fertile land –Pollution: air, water, land –Deforestation –Biodiversity loss –Erosion and desertification

With a direct impact on the world of work All jobs depend (directly or indirectly) of these resources: food and agriculture, forestry sector, construction, energy. Environmental problems create job losses, income reduction, increasing poverty and inequality. It costs public money! Soil degradation alone costs SA nearly R2bill annually in dam sedimentation and increased water treatment Adaptation to these problems is feasible only to certain level.

Environment & Social crisis Interlinked crisis Ecosystem degradation due to: –Unsustainable farming practices –Infrastructure development –Unsustainable exploitation of natural resources –Pollution and invasive species As a result: –Food insecurity –Rise in poverty –Impacts on human health and wellbeing –Collapse of economic activities and jobs losses

Sectors with highest potential to create green jobs Transportation: public transport, more efficient transport system Agriculture & Forestry: organic agriculture, sustainable forestry and fishery Energy: renewable energies, energy efficiency. Construction: green buildings Recycling What do they have in common? More labour intensive than the sectors they are replacing

Some figures: jobs that depend on biodiversity and ecosystems Jobs directly related to biodiversity: –In the EU 14.6 million jobs, 7% of the labour market –In developing countries, 927 million, 35% of their labour market Jobs with a direct link with ecosystem services: –112 mill jobs in EU, 48% of LM –1298 mill in developing countries, 49% of LM Jobs indirectly dependent on ecosystem services: –104 mill jobs in the European Union, 45% LM –413 mill jobs in developing countries,16% LM

Agriculture –Unsustainable practices have resulted in low- quality and low-income jobs. –The sector represent 70% of child labour –Workers have twice as likely to die at work as those in other sectors –Death to exposure of dangerous chemical products –Organic farming: creates a third more employment than non-organic farming and reduce exposure to chemicals.

Forest Environmentally-friendly forest sector: –Additional jobs: up to 10 mill new jobs –Eradication of forced labour –Less fires Measures to be implemented –eradicating illegal logging –Providing training to workers on sustainable management –Improving working conditions –Establishing protected forest areas –Reforestation with native species –Clean-up work in forest areas

Fishing Fishing essential to the survival and food security of 200 mill people Now: 30% global stocks are over- exploited. 88 % at the EU- 45% outside safe biological limits. Opportunities of sustainable fishing: –New jobs: 100,000 only in Europe (inc. 28%) –Transformation of the sectors: companies and workers: need for a Just Transition framework

Tourism Represent 8% of global employment and is expected to grow Precarious working conditions: low salary, long hours, informal economy. A significant part of the sector is highly dependent of biodiversity and ecosystems Eco-tourism: –Major source of local employment –Impacts of tourism infrastructure and facilities would not destruct natural habitats, create water pollution and waste would be managed…

Water resource management One of the sectors most dependant on ecosystems: high correlation between global areas with biodiversity under threat and areas with water security is at risk. Options: –Increase water use efficiency –Reduce pressure of underground sources –Reform water policies, promoting water saving –Reform water governance. Role of public sector

Biodiversity and poverty: GDP of the poor

Transitional issues to consider… Structural change of the economy Possibility of job losses only identified in the transport sector. More public transport, less need for vans and taxis. But still the is a net job creation balance. Low green industrial capacity in SA. Risk of job creation to benefit other countries. Half of GJ potential directly linked to natural resources! 1) No possibility of delocalizing 2) very linked to poverty and inequality reduction. High potential in organic agriculture (20,000 jobs) Attention should be paid to employment condition in green sectors. Not take it for granted.

Quality of green jobs Health, safety and training are frequent decent work deficiencies of green jobs sectors Construction: precarious, short-term, hig subcontracting and unhealthy conditions, low wages, low training Low level of unionization within renewable energy workers. Recycling might help to organize informal workers in this sector, lifted them out of poverty. Skills needs!

Thanks for your attention!

South Africa’s environmental commitments Climate Change: peak, plateau, decline trajectory for GHG emissions. Pick reached around Reduce 34% lower than Business as usual scenario by Introducing by 2030 an economy-wide carbon price Edification standard: new buildings should meet minimum energy efficiency requirements and include renewable energies Renewable energy Feed-in Tariffs. 20,000 MW by Decommissioning 11,000 MW aging coal-fired power stations. Strategic plan agriculture and forestry. Objective 17,500 new green jobs

New Green Growth Path NGP sees the “green economy” as key “job drivers”, particularly by realising the potential unleashed as the greening of sectors, including energy generation through renewable sources, introduction of cleaner and more efficient production processes and improved natural resources management. Established by Economic Development Department Provides strategies to create five million new jobs in SA by ,000 GJ by 2020 Vision: more developed, democratic, cohesive and equitable economy and society.

New Growth Path- Key actions Key actions to support green economy: –Renewable energy generation and energy efficiency –Green industrial support. SMEs –Setting codes for commercial buildings –Social pact –Skills development –Enhancing public works on green sectors –Green technology and fiscal policies

Green Economy Accord Signed government, business and unions 12 commitments: –1 mill solar water systems by –Increasing investment in green economy –Procurement of renewable energies –Biofuels for vehicles –Clean-coal initiatives –Improve mass transportation and shift to rail for freight transport –Electrification of poor communities –Promotion of youth employment, cooperatives and skills development

Primary industries: Highly dependent on biodiversity Farming, forestry sector, fishing, water supply Biodiversity provide raw materials Biodiversity is the basis of development in the sectors Regulating ecosystem services are needed for the functioning Biodiversity is the basis of production of these sectors 36% jobs in developing countries 6,5% jobs in EU

Manufacturing industries dependent on inputs and processes from ecosystems Energy supply, mining, food, drink and tobacco, wood and paper, pharmaceuticals and other production industries Ecosystem services essential for production Biodiversity provision of raw materials Biodiversity products and ecosystem services development Ecosystem services essential for processing activities 30% jobs in developing countries 17% jobs in EU