As the G20 gets prepared to meet in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, job implementation will undoubtedly be a primary focus. However, one new report published by the Global Climate Network (GCN) argues that more proactive government initiatives must be incorporated for job creation to even make a substantial contribution to the employment sector.
G20 economies, including Africa’s only member South Africa, should focus on creating markets for low carbon technologies. The report said this will serve the dual purpose of creating extra jobs in renewable energy, information technology, and service sectors while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It said that while more jobs would be lost in the conventional, carbon-intensive sectors, more jobs would be created than lost if government policies are bold enough.
Findings from the GCN’s study suggest that China’s existing plans to decouple emissions from economic growth by 2020 and develop new sectors, such as renewable electricity generation, services, and high tech industries could lead to the creation of over 40 million new jobs. GCN’s UK member, the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), has suggested that with a strong governmental backing, up to 70,000 long-term jobs could be created in the UK offshore wind industry while also increasing the country’s export potential.
Andrew Pendleton, Senior Research Fellow at IPPR and Coordinator of the Global Climate Network said:
“Our network has analyzed existing research into employment creation in climate-friendly sectors and it is our view that the opportunities to create good quality, long-term jobs are significant. But governments have to be bold, smart and collaborative in the way they approach creating stable markets in low carbon technologies. The G20 in Pittsburgh is the perfect opportunity to begin this work.”