UN forecasts boom in Green Jobs

Welcome back, dedicated reader! Thanks for visiting.

There is a new report called Green Jobs: Towards Decent Work in a Sustainable, Low-Carbon World, commissioned and funded by the United Nations’ Environment Programme as part of a Green Jobs Initiative. It finds that “There is broad agreement that alternative energy creates more jobs than conventional sources do — in other words, a switch from oil, gas, or coal produces a net gain in employment.”

Here are some specifics:

• in 2006 there were 170,000 Solar PV (photovoltaic) jobs worldwide, 15,700 in the U.S.
• by 2030 there are expected to be 6.3 million such jobs
• installation and maintenance of solar PV and solar thermal systems in particular offer tremendous job growth
• several countries have reported that a “skills gap” already exists between availableworkers and the needs of green industries
• markets for the manufacturing and installation of solar PV modules and components grew from $4.7 billion in 2003 to $15.6 billion in 2006, and will likely grow to $69.3 billion by 2016
• solar PV could account for 11.2 percent of global electricity production in 2030
• a study by the California Public Interest Research Group (CALPIRG) Charitable Trust suggestedthat current demand in California would create 3,000 permanent operations and maintenance jobs
• according to the Solar Initiative of New York, the development of solar electricity in the state can support 3,000 direct installation or maintenance jobs and more than 10,000 manufacturing and integration jobs by 2017
• an analysis by the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) found that establishment of a national Renewable Electricity Standard could create 185,000 jobs nationwide
• a study by the American Solar Energy Society (ASES) found that in 2006 the U.S. renewables sector employed close to 200,000 people directly and 246,000 indirectly. The report says that by 2030, some 1.3 million direct and indirect jobs could be created under a “business-as-usual” scenario, and 7.9 million under a scenario with strong national policies, including targets, standards, and invigorated R&D.
• between 2000 and 2005, the solar photovoltaics (PV) industry averaged annual growth rates ofmore than 40 percent; global sales revenues of $12 billion in 2006 are projected to rise to $27.5 billion by 2012
• a “PV Roadmap” produced by the U.S. Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) suggests that employment could rise from 20,000 today to 62,000 by 2015, 260,000 by 2030, and 350,000 by 2050

This report is the first comprehensive study on the emergence of a “green economy” and its impact on the world of work. It includes new data that shows a changing pattern of employment in which green jobs are being generated in many sectors and economies around the world as a result of measures to tackle climate change and to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases.

Related posts:

1. Pacific Power Management: Jobs in a City Near You! Pacific Power Management, founded in 2002, develops, finances, and operates power plants.  Their customers experience long term electricity savings and even better, their power purchase agreement requires no investment! This means that you save money and get lower monthly electricity rates. Pacific Power Managements also uses renewable energy credits,...
2. Solar industry to add 60,000 new jobs in California! Solar has been growing even faster in recent months, just as expected, and there is no end to this impressive growth in sight.  All this to keep pace with the incredible growth seen by wind power just last year, as reported by AWEA. A new study released Wednesday says...
3. Solar Automation Poised to Create MORE Green Jobs Everyone knows that solar energy is good for the environment, but increasingly it’s good for the number of green jobs created right here in America. But it’s not just the jobs that are on the rise, increased automation used in solar cell production is the key for the business...
4. China Generates a Better Energy Reality & Green Jobs  The Chinese government recently approved a plan to offer 50% subsidies to new solar installations, and up to 70% subsidies for regions without electricity. This project will charge China’s large workforce with the project of changing its current global title of world’s largest greenhouse gas producer.  How many people...
5. Students get charged about Green Jobs! This is the spirit! With more and more companies and individuals going into green businesses and careers it’s no wonder that students are joining the revolution. More and more green degree programs are popping up to give the proper coursework for these students. Yet again this is evidence of...