Intergenerational efforts towards a sustainable economy
Notipress.- The transition to a green and sustainable economy faces various challenges, especially in urban areas. Key obstacles include a lack of green skills and a lack of investment in training to enable workers to access green jobs. Projections suggest that up to 20% of global gross domestic product could be lost by 2100 if climate action continues to be delayed, impacting both businesses and regional economies, the World Economic Forum reported. .
On the contrary, investing in green jobs not only reduces these risks but also increases the effectiveness of job creation and climate action. According to analysis by C40 and the Circle Economy Foundation, jobs in the green sector already account for around 10% of employment in the world’s 74 megacities. Additionally, sectors such as water, transportation and construction, which are fundamental to the green transition, have the potential for growth and diversification of the urban workforce.
For example, in Latin America, high levels of urbanization are driving the growth of the green transport sector. In Bogotá, La Lolita, the city’s first public electric bus, has developed a comprehensive policy to employ and support disadvantaged women, with the aim of encouraging women’s participation in the green transport sector. . Similarly, this approach has been taken up in the financial sector, such as in the case of green loans that Adelanto (a Mexican app) provides to property owners with prepayment of rent.
Local, collaborative action to close the skills gap
Youth unemployment and labor informalization represent a challenge to the ecological transition in the Global South, widening the gap between the workforce and green employment opportunities. In Africa, cities like Accra are working with the informal sector to improve recycling and waste management practices and create sustainable jobs that have a positive impact on the environment and local economies.
Europe is also moving in this direction, with cities working with local employers to train workers and create jobs in areas such as energy efficiency. Currently, 26% of the workforce in Europe’s C40 cities already participates in green work activities.
A comprehensive and long-term approach
To address the global green skills gap, C40 and its partners are driving partnerships between governments, businesses, and communities. These local public-private partnerships focus on improving access to training and employment, which in turn drives economic growth and decarbonization efforts in key sectors.
