PM discusses the subject of ‘Green Jobs’

Context

Recently, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi mentioned India’s efforts to create ‘green jobs’, on the occasion of World Environment Day.

What are Green Jobs?

• ‘Green jobs’ refer to a class of jobs that directly have a positive impact on the planet, and contribute to the overall environmental welfare.
• Job category: Jobs involving renewable energy, conservation of resources, and ensuring energy-efficient means are categorized under the green jobs. 
• In all, they’re aimed at reducing the negative environmental impact of economic sectors and furthering the process of creating a low-carbon economy.
• The idea behind a low-carbon economy or decarbonisation is fairly simple.
  • It is about maintaining a sustainable economy, one that doesn’t lead to vast emissions of greenhouse gases, especially carbon dioxide.

India and ‘green jobs’

• The Skill Council for Green Jobs (SCGJ) was launched by the Union government on October 1, 2015 under the Societies Registration Act XXI, 1860.
• Aligned to the National Skill Development Missions, it was set up to be a not-for-profit, independent, industry-led initiative.

• It is promoted by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).
• It aims to help manufacturers and other service providers in India’s ‘green business’ sector to implement industry-led, collaborative skills to push the country on the path to realising the potential of ‘green jobs’.

About Green Jobs Initiative

• This initiative was launched collectively in 2008 by-
  • The International Labour Organization (ILO)
  • The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
  • The International Organization of Employers (IOE)
  • The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC)
• The Green Jobs Initiative aimed at bettering placements, training and creating opportunities for individuals to work in ‘green jobs’.
• It promotes opportunity, equity and a just transition towards green economy and solutions to defining challenges such as sustainable development and climate change.
• It encourages governments, employers and workers to collaborate on coherent policies and programmes to realize a sustainable and just transition with green jobs and decent work for all.
• The project aims to support its constituents, namely government, enterprises, and workers, to move towards a socially fair transition to low carbon and green economy at national and local level.