(CoR Open Days) UNEP organises Youth Green Jobs workshop

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Best practice, tangible solutions and concrete ideas for the creation of green jobs in youth-dominated industries were central to the interactive Youth Green Jobs workshop organised on 8 October 2013 by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) as part of the Committee of the Regions (CoR) Open Days. Panelists representing UNEP, the CoR and the private sector spoke about how green jobs initiatives had been successfully implemented in their geographical regions or areas of work.

 Mercedes Bresso, Vice-President of the CoR, opened the workshop and expressed her appreciation for its organization as a concrete achievement in the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding between the CoR and UNEP.

Steven Stone, Chief of UNEP’s Economics and Trade Branch spotlighted a range of projects that have been implemented in India, Bangladesh, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania which have created jobs with a strong environmental and social component and thereby contribute to sustainable development in these countries. Stone stressed the vital need for a green job transition in every part of the world, stating that “a business-as usual approach is no longer feasible as planetary boundaries constrain economic growth as traditionally conceived”.

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In the EU, succesful green jobs initiatives are also underway. CoR member Annamarie Jaeger presented the work of the Regional Institute for Environment and Sustainable Development Training in her region of Provence, France, which since 2009 has offered both youth and adults the opportunity to acquire essential skills in green fields such as solar energy and eco-construction.

Similarly, the Valencia region of Spain has recently launched various renewable energy vocational training initiatives. María Victoria Palau Tárrega, Director-General for EU Relations of the Community of Valencia, also drew attention to the work of the Regions4GreenGrowth project, which sees EU regions with high sustainable energy ambitions cooperate on green jobs and other environmental projects.

From the industry side, Cathy Cronin, environmental engineer at Intel Ireland, focused on potential uses of data and technology that enable better environmental monitoring and reduced energy consumption, thus demonstrating the important role that companies can play in the creation of green jobs.

The workshop was followed by a one-to-one environmental CV clinic provided by UNEP staff and networking drinks, during which young professionals and interns working in the environmental field were encouraged to join the Brussels Environment Interns Network. Led by UNEP’s intern team, this group regularly organises events around the theme of green jobs.