Green Jobs: Reality or Fiction?

Australians will have heard the term 'green jobs' in the last few years as it has gained currency around the world as the climate change debates have continued.

The thesis is pretty simple and some, including CarbonEdge, say that its too simple.

In transitioning to a low carbon economy (yes that is more jargon), the jobs that will be created or should be created should be 'green jobs'. That is, work in the future should be focussed on environmental protection and performing work duties 'the right way', implying that climate change means many will have to be retrained in order to do the same job differently.

Others say that this is nonsense and that jobs are jobs. Further, there is an increasing movement that suggests some of the green jobs rhetoric is a slur on decent and honest working people who have no choices in how they go about their work.

Overall, the literature suggests that as some industries change, some of the occupations will change and consequently, some retraining may be required.

But this is not the norm. For most of us, whether we drive a low or high emissions truck, use a computer made from recycled parts, work in an office with good energy efficiency or manufacture products with renewable energy our employer purchased doesnt make any difference.

Click here to read the CarbonEdge article on green jobs.

25th September 2009
 

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