Green Jobs in Australia: A Status Report

Sustainability 2010, 2, 3792-3811; doi:10.3390/su2123792 OPEN ACCESS sustainability ISSN 2071-1050 www.mdpi.com/journal/sustainability Article Green Jobs in Australia: A Status Report Ian Thomas, Orana Sandri and Kathryn Hegarty * School of Global Studies, Social Science and Planning, RMIT University, GPO Box 2476, Melbourne, 3001, Australia; E-Mails: (I.T.); (O.S.) * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: ; Tel.: +61-3-9925-9009. Received: 26 October 2010; in revised form: 11 November 2010 / Accepted: 1 December 2010 / Published: 20 December 2010 Abstract: This paper captures the breadth of complexity in the debate about ‗green jobs‘ as the world seeks to transition to a ‗low carbon economy‘ and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through the reduction of reliance for energy on the burning of fossil fuels. A consideration is provided within both the Australian and international contexts of the current assertions and projections regarding green jobs, their definition and location in the economy. The substantive focus of the paper is on the development of these notions in the Australian context. We consider the understanding brought to the term and explore some of the intersections for vocational employment and training which have emerged in debate about the ways in which nations will manage the carbon pollution reduction imperative. We explore the ways forward for a coherent understanding of the need to build capacity for green jobs. Keywords: green jobs; energy efficiency; renewable energy; climate change; low carbon economy; clean energy 1. The Intense Interest in Green Jobs There has been a steady growth in discussion of green jobs. Economic stimulus packages, announced in response to the 2008 economic crisis, such as that in the United States [1], and recognition of the need to engage with climate change [2] have highlighted the role of green jobs. Much of the recent discussion has focused on the potential to create green jobs. However, while there is a lot of talk, to date, little data has been assembled to support the enthusiasm. This raises issues of what data are available to support Sustainability 2010, 2 3793 forecasts, and particularly identifies the difficulties in defining a ‗green job‘. In this paper we provide an overview of these issues to stimulate discussion to help our understanding of green jobs, and how we can be training people for these roles. A comprehensive overview of global green job trends and future demand is contained in ‗Green Jobs: Towards Decent Work in a Sustainable Low-Carbon World‘, a report from a coalition of four highly respected organisations: UNEP, International Labour Organization, International Organisation of Employers and International Trade Union Confederation [3]. In essence the report argues that there is ―tremendous potential‖ for green jobs [3]. It goes on: ―Encouragingly, the business case for greening both the economy and the job market has been growing increasingly powerful. Energy and commodity prices are surging and customers and policy makers are exerting growing pressure on businesses to adopt greener practices and production methods in order to avert dangerous climate change. The greening of the economy presents a major opportunity to start new businesses, develop new markets and lower energy costs. Last but not least it can strengthen a business‘ licence to operate, generating positive attitudes of both the activities and investments of firms among customers and local communities alike.‖ Looking at North America, there are several notable reports by organisations expressing similar optimism. The Pew Charitable Trusts conclude that, in respect of energy: ―the clean energy economy, still in its infancy, is emerging as a vital component of America‘s economic landscape. Across the country, jobs and businesses in the clean energy economy are being driven by consumer demand, venture capital infusions by private sector investors eager to capitalize on new market opportunities, and policy reforms by federal and state lawmakers who want to spur economic growth while sustaining the environment‖ [4]. Similarly, reports by the American Solar Energy Society [5] and activity by organisations including Apollo Alliance [6] and Green For All show strong advocacy and support for green jobs [7]. With a focus on the energy sector, Global Insight [8] on behalf of the United States Conference of Mayors conclude: ―There are many Green Jobs in our economy already, but that figure stands to grow tremendously over the coming years due to market forces, legislation, and local initiatives, or some combination thereof.‖ In Canada, Gallon notes that by the beginning of the 21st Century green jobs, across more than the single energy sector, were generating ―approximately 2.2 percent of Canada‘s gross domestic product, a figure that may actually underestimate the true size of the sector.‖ [9] Interest in green jobs is also reported in Europe. Here Ghani-Eneland, and Renner (2009) in ‗Low carbon jobs for Europe‘ report on trends in such jobs associated with the renewable energy sector, transport, and energy efficiency. Their estimates are that green jobs account for some 3.4 million direct jobs, while indirect jobs may add up to an additional 5 million [10]. Regarding the future they suggest that: ―The number of green jobs is still a relatively small share of that total, but compares favourably with the 2.8 million jobs in polluting industries (mining, electricity, gas, cement, and iron and steel sectors). And indications are that jobs in the renewable energy sector and other green economic activities will continue to expand in the future, whereas employment in extractive and polluting industries continues to decline‖ [10]. In Australia there has been interest in the development of jobs in the environment (or green) sector for almost two decades. In the mid 1990s the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Sustainability 2010, 2 3794 Environment, Recreation and the Arts (1994) reported: ―The environment industry is one of the fastest growing sectors of the global economy. Worldwide, the market for environmental goods and services is already larger than the aerospace market. While the world market for the pollution control and waste management sectors of the industry is expected to grow by at least five per cent per year, a much higher growth rate is forecast for South-east Asia which will provide substantial opportunities for Australian industry‖ [11]. To take advantage of these opportunities the Committee proposed 54 recommendations to support the development of environmentally related jobs; however there is no clarity as to how many were ever enacted. At the turn of the century, and with the focus on jobs in (the Australian state of) Tasmania, similar expectations were held by that state‘s Department of State Development when a six percent growth was predicted in jobs associated with sustainable devel (...truncated)