Green jobs

The European Parliament today adopted a report on the jobs potential of the sustainable economy by German Green draftsperson/rapporteur Elisabeth Schroedter. Speaking after the vote, Elisabeth Schroedter said:

"The Greens have long advocated that Europe commit to a true Green New Deal, speeding up the transition to the green economy as the only viable response to the current economic crisis. It is therefore very welcome that a large majority of MEPs from different political groups have supported this report, which highlights the huge potential for creating new green jobs and transforming existing jobs into green jobs across Europe and sets out recommendations to this end.

"By taking the lead in shifting to a sustainable economy, Europe can gain first mover advantage and ensure we remain competitive with other global economic powerhouses. In order to achieve this, we need to build broad alliances in support of this economic transformation, as well as strengthening the opportunities for training and retraining the workforce, particularly for women, to equip them with the necessary skills for these green jobs. We also need to set ambitious environmental standards to stimulate the shift to the production of sustainable goods.

"The Belgian presidency of the EU has already signalled its intention to prioritise the creation of green jobs and the European Council must agree and outline concrete initiatives to this end. The Commission must also deliver on its pledge to outline how to maximise the potential of the green economy in Europe and set out a green economic strategy."