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Earth Day: Invest in climate education to build a better workforce for a greener future

0414EnvironmentHealth SCEarth Day is observed annually on April 22 to demonstrate support for environmental protection. The International Labour Organization (ILO) has called for urgent worldwide action on climate change, including the need to support climate education and awareness-raising.

The ILO’s Director-General, Mr. Guy Ryder stated that “The effects of climate change will alter the structure of employment. New jobs and new job families will emerge, others will disappear or become unsustainable, and enterprises will have to find ways to organize work and production differently, we need to prepare the youth for this changing world. Environmental education can empower students to solve the climate crisis and develop the skills, optimism and resolve to lead the environmental movement of tomorrow.”

The ILO estimates that rising heat due to climate change could lead to the loss of 80 million jobs by 2030, with poor countries worst hit. Taking ambitious action to tackle climate change can deliver more and better jobs, with a potential for 18 million net jobs by 2030, through measures in the energy sector. Enterprises will need well-trained workers, equipped with the right set of skills to reduce the carbon intensity of production. They will need to invest in preparing their workers for new and challenging technical and technological change, making the workplace a place of continuous learning in the ecological transition. 

Social dialogue is also an essential tool in ensuring a smooth shift in occupational skills training to facilitate workers’ mobility and ensure their social protection in a rapidly changing world of work.