The International Labor Organization (ILO) has joined the UN Alliance on Climate Change Education, Training and Public Awareness to further accelerate the ongoing transition of the global workforce toward a low-carbon and resilient economy.

The move comes not long before the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris in December, at which countries will conclude a universal climate change agreement, and the adoption of new sustainable development goals in New York in September.

The 13 member organizations of the UN Alliance on Climate Change Education, Training and Public Awareness are: FAO, ILO, UNDP, UNEP, UNDPI, UNFCCC, UNESCO, UNICEF, UNITAR, UNU, WHO, WMO and UN Women.

ILO Director-General Guy Ryder said: “The actors in the world of work – governments, employers and workers – are agents of change, who are able to develop new ways of working that safeguard the environment for present and future generations, eradicate poverty and promote social justice by fostering sustainable enterprises and creating decent work for all.”

UNFCCC Executive Secretary, Christiana Figueres added: “Going green and addressing climate change is still viewed by some as hampering growth and threatening jobs. We know that is not the case. If properly managed, environmental sustainability can lead to more and better jobs, poverty reduction and social inclusion.”

Inspiring ILO Examples of Climate Action

An inspiring example of how ILO is taking climate action is a programme to develop skills for greening the construction industry in Zambia. The programme is designed to create 5,000 new green jobs and improve the quality of 2,000 more by 2017, thanks to a partnership between the government and the construction sector.

In Bangladesh, the ILO has been improving technical and entrepreneurial training for solar technicians. 70% of all families living in rural Bangladesh are not connected to the national electricity grid. With the help of the ILO, villagers can now obtain low-cost solar power.

In the field of resilience to climate change, the ILO has been taking climate action with a Cash for Work programme in Fiji. Through this exemplary project, local people have been employed in moving an entire village away from a coastal area prone to sea level rise and flooding.

How the Alliance Will Showcase Climate Action at COP 21

These and similar projects provide experience and lessons learned that can be mutually shared within the UN Alliance on Climate Change Education, Training and Public Awareness.

Each year, the Alliance organizes side events at the UN Climate Change Conferences, where initiatives of UN Alliance members are showcased.

At COP 21 in Paris in December, the Alliance will host a number of side events to scale up climate change education and call for ambitious commitments to support particularly younger generations in developing their climate-related knowledge and skills.

Read more about the UN Alliance on Climate Change Education, Training and Public Awareness on the UNFCCC web site

Read about the ILO’s Green Jobs Programme

Image at top of article: ILO