Green jobs

Training is the key to a different agricultural model

26 February 2024

Training is the key to a different agricultural model

One of the keys to moving towards a food system that is less dependent on fossil fuels and pesticides is farmer education and training. Challenging the prevailing narrative is part of the process: “Of all the monopolies in industrial agriculture, the most powerful is the monopoly of [...]Read the full article

Leaving behind the pursuit of the American Dream for a good life in the forest

20 December 2023

Leaving behind the pursuit of the American Dream for a good life in the forest

José González was one of the countless migrants who risk crossing into the United States in search of a better life. But after years spent pursuing an American dream that is inaccessible to most, he returned home to the Sierra de Durango in north-west Mexico where he found the good life working [...]Read the full article

Green jobs in agriculture in Guatemala: how close are they?

14 December 2023

Green jobs in agriculture in Guatemala: how close are they?

Luis Linares: Bernardo Arévalo’s election victory offers a glimmer of hope that efforts will be made to promote green and decent work. But the ‘pact of the corrupt’, trying to prevent the social democrat from taking office on 14 January 2024, is fuelling uncertainty, and could block the reforms needed in rural [...]Read the full article

High-stakes treaty negotiations expose the challenge of just transition in the plastics sector

30 October 2023

High-stakes treaty negotiations expose the challenge of just transition in the plastics sector

Unions and many environmentalists want to see all waste workers – including waste pickers – in decent working conditions, while ensuring that upstream workers are not left behind.Read the full article

With workers locked-in to a future of continuing education, who will pay the bill?

12 January 2023

With workers locked-in to a future of continuing education, who will pay the bill?

Marga Zambrana: Experts and international organisations warn that only those who are able to quickly adapt to change through lifelong learning will survive.Read the full article

Coal industry workers in Australia are taking their destiny into their own hands

30 September 2022

Coal industry workers in Australia are taking their destiny into their own hands

Australia’s political leaders have long supported the coal industry. With the industry now in decline, workers and trade unions are taking the lead to ensure a just transition.Read the full article

Costa Rica, a well-known and applauded environmental model, is faced with lesser known but major challenges

22 November 2021

Costa Rica, a well-known and applauded environmental model, is faced with lesser known but major challenges

Although Costa Rica is widely applauded for its environmental policies, it is lagging behind in other areas linked to the environment, such as just transition.Read the full article

18 November 2021

After 30 years on Bogotá’s buses, I fear that just transition is slipping out of our hands

Francisco Mora: “December 2021. That’s the last date when the buses I have been working in and around my whole life will be phased out, for a new generation of all-electric ones. That is also the date I will lose my job, just three years short of retirement and without other alternatives to fall back [...]Read the full article

In the midst of the Covid crisis, Kenyan unions are attempting to tackle the climate emergency head on

13 October 2021

In the midst of the Covid crisis, Kenyan unions are attempting to tackle the climate emergency head on

“In creating green champions, our aim is to come up with environmental experts at the trade union level and to build the capacity for participation and in advocating for a just transition in Kenya.”Read the full article

The Portuguese government wants to build a new airport; environmentalists want climate justice

21 June 2021

The Portuguese government wants to build a new airport; environmentalists want climate justice

Environmental campaigners say that the new airport plan is at odds with the government’s commitment to reduce emissions and become carbon neutral by 2050.Read the full article

Mexico clings on to fossil fuels

25 May 2021

Mexico clings on to fossil fuels

Mexico is reluctant to part with fossil fuels. President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s energy strategy is firmly committed to new hydrocarbon projects and the generation of dirty energy, to the detriment of renewable sources such as wind and solar [...]Read the full article

The rise of a new generation of ‘green collar workers' in South-East Asia

17 May 2021

The rise of a new generation of ‘green collar workers’ in South-East Asia

A new crop of professionals in the region are developing and engaging in new projects to help communities, the environment, and to make a difference.Read the full article

22 April 2021

Leaving no one behind in the city: ensuring just transitions for public transport workers

Bruno Dobrusin: Cities and public transport will be essential in the recovery from Covid. However, current narratives often miss the crucial role played by public transport workers, their representatives, and the need for a just transition that ensures a decent livelihood for [...]Read the full article

Faced with climate change in Senegal, how can unions support efforts towards energy transition?

17 December 2020

Faced with climate change in Senegal, how can unions support efforts towards energy transition?

Torn between its international climate commitments to promote industrial projects that create clean energy sources and its reliance on still dominant polluting industries, Senegal must find a model of transition that is both just and capable of maintaining a balance in its progress towards [...]Read the full article

In Bangladesh, “workers are not responsible for climate change but we are the ones losing everything because of it”

9 December 2020

In Bangladesh, “workers are not responsible for climate change but we are the ones losing everything because of it”

Rising sea levels have forced workers to migrate to Bangladesh’s congested cities and accept extremely poor working conditions and low wages out of sheer desperation. The Bangladeshi trade unions are fighting to protect these workers while adopting just transition [...]Read the full article

3 December 2020

If decent work, saving our climate and protecting our biodiversity is the destination, just transition is the only pathway

Bert De Wel: “While just transition is a concept that is often associated with workers in fossil fuel industries that are in decline or expected to decline, the concept goes well beyond this.”Read the full article

Tunisia experiments with a gradual transition to more sustainable jobs and businesses

13 November 2020

Tunisia experiments with a gradual transition to more sustainable jobs and businesses

While some forward-looking members are trying to raise awareness about environmental issues within the UGTT, the trade union centre is already practicing just transition, whether they know it or not.Read the full article

Trade unions and civil society are pushing for ambitious climate action in Scotland

2 November 2020

Trade unions and civil society are pushing for ambitious climate action in Scotland

For the Scottish labour movement, COP26 offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to ensure that Scotland’s world-leading emissions targets put a just transition for workers and communities at the centre of all policies, investments and [...]Read the full article

The informal e-waste and metal recyclers of Agbogbloshie

23 October 2020

The informal e-waste and metal recyclers of Agbogbloshie

Burning the wires and cables of end-of-life electrical goods and electronics is incredibly toxic and completely unregulated, with workers at Agbogbloshie suffering burns and the dangerous effects of air, soil and water pollution.Read the full article

Now that the mines have closed, what lies ahead for Spain's coal country?

12 October 2020

Now that the mines have closed, what lies ahead for Spain’s coal country?

Spain is looking for new ways to breathe life into its mining regions following the closure of its coal mines in 2018. Just transition and social dialogue are key, but time is running out.Read the full article

A Green New Deal in a world shaped by the coronavirus is possible – in many countries, it is already a reality

11 June 2020

A Green New Deal in a world shaped by the coronavirus is possible – in many countries, it is already a reality

Steve Rushton: This pandemic is only the most visible wave of the disaster that rampant, unchecked capitalism has led us to; we must take full advantage of this moment of reflection the coronavirus has afforded us. We must heal the world.Read the full article

Can the EU's COVID recovery formula save Europe's workers from poverty?

26 May 2020

Politics & economy

Can the EU’s COVID recovery formula save Europe’s workers from poverty?

The governments of Europe are trying to maintain employment even if it means that the states themselves assume payment of a portion of salaries. Will they be able to save millions of families from ruin? What formula is being developed by the EU [...]Read the full article

Europe's birds now have a safe landing strip in Montenegro

22 April 2020

Europe’s birds now have a safe landing strip in Montenegro

Destined for urbanisation, the salt marshes of Ulcinj in Montenegro, amongst the largest in the Mediterranean, are now protected. The challenge now for local stakeholders lies in restoring the harmony that existed between nature and human activity, before the production of salt came to an [...]Read the full article

Portugal pops a cork to the regeneration of a formerly ailing industry – and to its sustainable future

25 March 2020

Portugal pops a cork to the regeneration of a formerly ailing industry – and to its sustainable future

The cork industry provides decent, green, skilled jobs for thousands of workers, setting a notable example as the world transitions to its low carbon future.Read the full article

Can the European Union lead the world's ecological transition?

29 January 2020

Can the European Union lead the world’s ecological transition?

Last December, the European Commission announced its ecological transition plan, intended to be a “new growth strategy” for the continent. But even if the EU can achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, what good will it do if the other regions of the world don’t join the green [...]Read the full article

As well as climate action, young people across the world are calling for climate education

24 January 2020

As well as climate action, young people across the world are calling for climate education

In the same way that governments have a duty to teach children how to read and write, they also need to ensure that young people are climate literate before it’s too late.Read the full article

Let's remember our union wins as we gear up in 2020 for the fight of our lives

16 January 2020

Let’s remember our union wins as we gear up in 2020 for the fight of our lives

Sharan Burrow: “We have just 10 years to stabilise the planet for our own survival. We know that the pathway to high ambition is just transition, and trade unions can take credit for the broad recognition of this demand.”Read the full article

The renewable energy sector may ‘pass' the environmental test, but what about labour and human rights?

20 December 2019

The renewable energy sector may ‘pass’ the environmental test, but what about labour and human rights?

Renewable energy companies are repeating the same business practices for which the fossil fuel industry has been criticized – practices that are very far from being clean.Read the full article

In West Bengal farmers are resisting climate change and rising costs with indigenous rice

22 November 2019

In West Bengal farmers are resisting climate change and rising costs with indigenous rice

The less reliant farmers are on agribusiness, and the more resilient the seeds they plant are to the vagaries of climate change, the better for the livelihoods of India’s farmers.Read the full article

Costa Rica's green paradox

4 November 2019

Costa Rica’s green paradox

Costa Rica, a small country of five million people, is seen as a model of sustainable development. But this success sits uncomfortably with its environmentally destructive agricultural practices.Read the full article

Can rewilding restore Europe's biodiversity and help change the way we think about nature?

25 September 2019

Can rewilding restore Europe’s biodiversity and help change the way we think about nature?

The reintroduction of wildlife, which receives disproportionate media attention, is but one element of a broad spectrum of measures that rewilding encompasses.Read the full article

Unions must join the Global Climate Strike to avert a climate catastrophe

5 September 2019

Unions must join the Global Climate Strike to avert a climate catastrophe

Ruwan Subasinghe: Without the right to strike workers will not be able to effectively demand investment in new green jobs, training, income protection and other necessary measures for a fair and just transition.Read the full article

Tackling the cigarette butt pollution emergency

26 August 2019

Tackling the cigarette butt pollution emergency

Cigarette butts are one of the most common sources of litter in the world and pose serious environmental hazards. While a European directive will force cigarette manufacturers to take responsibility for cigarette waste, its application date of 2024 is insufficient faced with the current state [...]Read the full article

A Green New Deal could stop the carbon bootprint of the military-industrial complex in its tracks

8 August 2019

A Green New Deal could stop the carbon bootprint of the military-industrial complex in its tracks

Steve Rushton: “Putting peace front and centre of the Green New Deal offers a way to reverse the vicious cycle of arms, oil and war.”Read the full article

The climate emergency is a core trade union issue: that's why it's time to ‘Climate-Proof Our Work'

25 June 2019

The climate emergency is a core trade union issue: that’s why it’s time to ‘Climate-Proof Our Work’

Bert De Wel: “Workers have to speak up and organise. We have to make sure that our jobs, our businesses and our colleagues are ready for ambitious climate policies. This is a core union responsibility and it starts on the work floor.”Read the full article

Insect farming is not only good for the environment but is also improving the lives of many farmers in Thailand

24 April 2019

Insect farming is not only good for the environment but is also improving the lives of many farmers in Thailand

While eating insects is nothing new in Thailand, breeding them is a relatively recent phenomenon that dates back to 1997. Insect farming carries both the benefits of limited environmental impact and employment opportunities for women in rural areas, as well as the looming risk of increased [...]Read the full article

Time is running out to save the planet

5 December 2018

Time is running out to save the planet

Despite extensive scientific literature, many believe that agroecology is nothing but a trend, and see banning single-use plastics as an inconvenience. What they don’t understand is that we have no other option – we’re living on borrowed time. If we don’t set limits for ourselves, the planet will do [...]Read the full article

Vicente Posada Unay Jr: “How can you genuinely create green jobs without talking to the unions?”

30 November 2018

Vicente Posada Unay Jr: “How can you genuinely create green jobs without talking to the unions?”

“The privatisation of the power industry is one of the biggest barriers to the government’s commitment to reduce carbon emissions.”Read the full article

In Poland, local movements are challenging the nation's addiction to coal

26 November 2018

In Poland, local movements are challenging the nation’s addiction to coal

Could city-based environmental movements drive climate-action in Poland, even without support at a national level?Read the full article

Puerto Ricans want a clean and just energy future

5 October 2018

Puerto Ricans want a clean and just energy future

“A just transition to renewable energy is not just about minimising the effects of climate change, it’s also about ensuring access to energy for everyone.”Read the full article

Climate change: beyond the challenges

13 July 2018

Climate change: beyond the challenges

We are launching our series of summer specials with this collection of articles focusing on one of the great challenges of our time, climate change, which has implications for the way we produce and eat, and the future of jobs linked to fossil [...]Read the full article

4 July 2018

Ensuring a just transition

Sharan Burrow: “Nothing less than a transformation is needed on the environmental, the social and the economic front. There are promising signs.”Read the full article

The false promises of 'clean coal'

5 February 2018

The false promises of ’clean coal’

"The idea that south-east Asian markets will make up for the worldwide decline in coal is nothing more than the false hope of a dying industry"Read the full article

Sweden's smooth energy transition

15 January 2018

Sweden’s smooth energy transition

Sweden has committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2045. The country’s energy transition is already well underway and the necessary structural changes are being made with the support of companies and the trade unions.Read the full article

Environmentalists in Honduras, “neither ignorant nor anti-development”

11 October 2017

Environmentalists in Honduras, “neither ignorant nor anti-development”

Bertha Zúñiga Cáceres: “We know that what is in dispute in the world today are the natural commons, because that is where the energy is going to be taken from, it’s the new business. As a result, those of us who are working to defend ancestral lands are faced with a very complicated [...]Read the full article

Is Palestinian ‘green gold' the next big thing in olive oil?

10 October 2017

Is Palestinian ‘green gold’ the next big thing in olive oil?

“This is the social empowerment of the small farmers. It is both economic, helping them to become more competitive and develop their business, and political, by supporting Palestinian traditions and identity”.Read the full article

2 June 2017

Investing in climate action is an imperative to secure jobs

Sharan Burrow: "Marginalising a nation, placing risk on responsible companies and constraining sustainable jobs for American workers is a high price to pay."Read the full article

21 April 2017

Politics & economy

This Saturday, March for Science!

Equal Times Newsdesk: When the global street can make a differenceRead the full article

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