At an event to mark World Environment Day recently, PM mentioned India’s efforts to create ‘green jobs’.
What are ‘Green Jobs’?
- ‘Green jobs’ refer to a class of jobs that directly have a positive impact on the planet, and contribute to the overall environmental welfare.
- Jobs involving renewable energy, conservation of resources, ensuring energy efficient means are categorised under the same.
- In all, they are aimed at reducing the negative environmental impact of economic sectors and furthering the process of creating a low-carbon economy.
- The idea behind a low-carbon economy or decarbonisation is fairly simple — it is about maintaining a sustainable economy.
India and ‘green jobs’
- The Skill Council for Green Jobs was launched by the Union government on October 1, 2015.
- Aligned to the National Skill Development Missions, it was set up to be a not-for-profit, independent, industry-led initiative.
Why need Green Jobs?
- The UNEP’s 2019 Emissions Gap report dictates that it is essential for greenhouse gas emissions to reduce by 7.6% per annum between the years 2020 to 2030.
- This is necessary to reach the target that was set during the Paris Agreement.
- Failing to meet the same would consequently result in a failure to effectively combat global warming.
- Consequently, a decarbonized economy plays a key role in ensuring a greener, safer, healthier and more sustainable planet to inhabit.
Way forward
- According to the ILO, India moving to a green economy by the next decade would alone create about 3 million jobs in the renewable energy sector.
- The renewable energy sector created about 47,000 new jobs in 2017 accounting for a 12% increase in just the span of a year.
- For India ‘green jobs’ can prove immensely useful to the country with sectors like renewable energy, waste management, green transport and urban farming.
- An integrated, systematic approach is crucial to ensuring this.
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