Report counters claims that cutting emissions is incompatible with growth
Naturally, a major concern that many people feel about decarbonising the energy industry is that it will result in job losses, at a time when global recovery is still faltering.
But new research by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) and the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) argues that a commitment of 1.5 per cent of GDP per year to renewable energy would not only be able to maintain economic growth at a healthy rate, it would create more jobs than maintaining the fossil fuel industry.
The 1.5 percent commitment is necessary to meet the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)’s targets for carbon emissions: a 50 per cent reduction by 2030, and an 80 per cent reduction by 2050.
The report explores the impact of clean energy investment on emerging and current economic powers. It finds that for every $1 million spent, clean energy investments generate, on average, about 37 jobs in Brazil, 10 jobs in Germany, 100 jobs in Indonesia, 70 jobs in South Africa, and 15 jobs in South Korea.
Crucially, the report states that:
“New investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy will generate more jobs for a given amount of spending than maintaining or expanding each country’s existing fossil fuel sectors.”
It finds that in Brazil, Indonesia, and South Africa, the net employment gains for clean energy investments will be ‘substantial’; although they are more modest in Germany and South Korea, building a clean energy economy will in all cases be a net positive source of job creation.
Interestingly, the report also raises the issue of gender imbalance. It finds that employment in clean energy areas is currently heavily male dominated in all five countries studied, due to the role played by manufacturing and construction.
It suggests that advancing major clean energy initiatives in these countries, as well as elsewhere, could be a chance to open up job opportunities for women in traditionally male strongholds.
Read the full UNIDO report here.
Ruby Stockham is a staff writer at Left Foot Forward. Follow her on Twitter
59 Responses to “Clean energy will create more jobs than fossil fuel, says UN report”
gunnerbear
What tosh. There was a report in Spain that clearly showed ‘green energy’ costs jobs and that ‘green jobs’ all have to be subsidised….every single one of them. http://www.cityam.com/article/1395776963/green-myth-why-renewables-destroy-jobs http://www.spectator.co.uk/features/8931771/energy-special-the-green-jobs-myth/ http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=a2PHwqAs7BS0 We’re on island made of coal……think of that….and think how many jobs could be created and sustained if we burned coal to provide cheap energy.
gunnerbear
Environmentalism – a Left wing scam to try and get themselves power whilst telling everyone else they can’t have the toys the well heeled Greens all have. Greens – hypocritical scum who want all the toys the modern world can provide but then decry each and every way those toys are made. Greens – hypocritical scum that say no new airports should be built whilst they themselves fly from home to work. The sort of people who want flying only for the rich so they don’t have to rub shoulders with the rest of us.
S
Shame that we recently discovered that ‘cheap’ fossils fuels are actually being subsidised to the tune of nearly £6TRILLION a year – 7% of global GDP – whereas renewables are given only £60billion a year. As your for first comment, I might frame it for hilarity’s sake.
S
Not that you’ll bother reading it, but here’s just one source – http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/may/18/fossil-fuel-companies-getting-10m-a-minute-in-subsidies-says-imf – and there are plenty of others, even ones that you might consider valid like the FT, Daily Mail or similar. Tried to edit that £6trillion (mistype) to £5trillion but it won’t let me. While you’re at it, maybe you should read the original study in the LFF article too.
gunnerbear
And so what if fossil fuels are subsidised…..it’s what you get out that matters. Wind power is s**t for a modern economy – all the wind-power has to be underwritten by conventional generation in case it doesn’t blow or blows too much or blows at the wrong time. A Greenpeace boss flew from home to work as a regular commuter even though trains were available and that Greenpeace said flying must be taxed even more to reduce demand i.e. flying only for the well heeled NGO types not the family of four who might want to go on holiday to Spain. Still, I’m sure you’ll agree Greenpeace is a wonderful organisation incapable of doing wrong….. https://www.biggreenradicals.com/group/greenpeace/ …I mean none of it’s true………is it……….