• Events
  • Marketplace
  • Resources
  • Press Releases
  • Business Directory
  • Advertise
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Submit to Allwork.Space
Sunday, February 5, 2023
Allwork.Space
The FUTURE OF WORK® since 2003
Find A Flexible Office Here
  • All Topics
    • Business
    • Biophilic Design
    • Career Growth
    • Coliving
    • Collaboration
    • Coworking
    • CRE
    • DE&I
    • Digital Nomads
    • Future of Work
    • Home Office
    • Human Resources (HR)
    • Hybrid Work
    • Investment
    • Leadership
    • Marketing
    • Mental Health
    • Mergers & Acquisitions
    • Office Furniture
    • Productivity
    • PropTech
    • Remote Work
    • Self-care
    • SMBs
    • Social Impact
    • Space-as-a-Service
    • Technology
    • Virtual Office
    • Work-life Balance
    • Workforce
    • Workplace Design
    • Workplace Wellness
  • News
  • Business
    Flexible Work and Investment in ESG are Driving Profitability for this Global Brand

    Flexible Work and Investment in ESG are Driving Profitability for this Global Brand

    Disney’s Imagination Has Failed

    Disney’s Imagination Has Failed

    Can COVID Booster Shots Save Your Business?

    Can COVID Booster Shots Save Your Business? 

    Three Culture-Building Steps To Create A World-Class Company

    Three Culture-Building Steps To Create A World-Class Company

    How To Manage Partnership Risks In The Future Of Work

    How To Manage Partnership Risks In The Future Of Work

    What It Takes To Be A Hybrid LeaderWhat It Takes To Be A Hybrid Leader

    Dr. Gleb Tsipursky CEO Of Disaster Avoidance Experts | What It Takes To Be A Hybrid Leader

    HR Leaders Share How New Salary Transparency Laws Have Changed Everything

    HR Leaders Share How New Salary Transparency Laws Have Changed Everything

    Don’t Be Adidas: Making Better Decisions Fast Is Important For Business Leadership

    Don’t Be Adidas: Making Better Decisions Fast Is Important For Business Leadership

    Are Productivity Paranoia and Lack of Trust the Real Obstacles to Hybrid and Remote Work?

    Are Productivity Paranoia And Lack Of Trust The Real Obstacles To Hybrid And Remote Work?

  • Tech
    3 Steps To Build A Three-Dimensional Hybrid Workplace

    3 Steps To Build A Three-Dimensional Hybrid Workplace

    PETER MISCOVICH

    Peter Miscovich JLL Global Future Of Work Leader | The Hybrid Workplace Evolution: Unlocking The Future Of Work

    AI Is Transforming The Future Of Industrial Work

    AI Is Transforming The Future Of Industrial Work

    Reimagining Offices for Hybrid Work

    Reimagining Offices for Hybrid Work: Frameable.com CEO on the Future of Virtual Offices

    How AI Can Help The Humans Within Human Resources

    HR Professionals Are Burned Out. Can A.I. Help?

    FOWP Adam Riggs

    Adam Riggs CEO Of Frameable | Can a Virtual Experience Really Replace the Office?

    Five Ways Tech Will Change The Ways We Work In 2023

    2023 Future Of Work Forecast: Five Ways Tech Will Change The Ways We Work In 2023

    Six Steps To Start A Coworking Center In The Metaverse

    Six Steps To Start A Coworking Center In The Metaverse

    Could Meta Be the Solution to Zoom Fatigue?

    Meta Wants To Fix Ongoing Zoom Fatigue — But You’ll Be Waiting A While

  • Marketing
    Instagram GenZ

    2023 Instagram Trends Reveal How To Market To Gen Z

    2023 Future Of Work Forecast: Focus Marketing On Values and Customer Experience, Not The Product

    2023 Future Of Work Forecast: Focus Marketing On Values and Customer Experience, Not The Product

    Want Your Coworking Newsletter to Actually Convert

    Want Your Coworking Newsletter to Actually Convert? Start by Keeping It Simple, Fun, and Consistent

    5 Pros Share How To Use Instagram To Grow Your Coworking Business

    5 Pros Share How To Use Instagram To Grow Your Coworking Business

    Want To Wow Coworking Members

    Want To “Wow” Coworking Members? It All Starts With (The Right) Insights

    6 Free, High-Quality Photo Sites To Level Up Your Marketing

    6 Free, High-Quality Photo Sites To Level Up Your Marketing

    The Creator Economy Is Dramatically Changing Marketing Practices, Here’s Why

    The Creator Economy Is Dramatically Changing Marketing Practices, Here’s Why

    Everything You Need To Know About Google My Business, And How To Ace It

    Everything You Need To Know About Google My Business, And How To Ace It

    Nothing Beats In-Person Communication, But These Online Tools Come Pretty Close

    Nothing Beats In-Person Communication, But These Online Tools Come Pretty Close

  • Design
    The Secret Formula To Determine How (And How Often) Your Employees Should Work In The Office

    The Secret Formula To Determine How (And How Often) Your Employees Should Work In The Office

    Create A Neurodiverse Friendly Office In Just One Minute

    Start Creating A Neurodiverse Friendly Office In Just One Minute

    Get Employee Buy-in To Make Office Redesigns Matter

    Get Employee Buy-in To Make Office Redesigns Matter

    How To Make Your Hybrid Office Accessible To All

    How To Make Your Hybrid Office Accessible To All

    Design Of Smart Office Spaces In The Post Pandemic World

    The Future Of Work Demands Futuristic Office Tech

    Designing Leadership Spaces for Hybrid Work

    Designing Leadership Spaces for Hybrid Work

    Resources And Tips To Harness The Power Of Interior Design For Environmental Impact — And Employee Retention

    Resources And Tips To Harness The Power Of Interior Design For Environmental Impact — And Employee Retention

    Designing Human Centric Workplaces Is Key To Hybrid Program Success

    Designing Human-Centric Workplaces Is Key To Hybrid Program Success

    2023 Future Of Work Forecast: Designing Offices For Evolving Workforce Needs

    2023 Future Of Work Forecast: Office Design Is Ever-Evolving; Here Are 5 Trends For 2023

  • Work-life
    5 Brain-Boosting Snacks To Power Your Work Day

    5 Brain-Boosting Snacks To Power Your Work Day

    City-sized Buildings Are On The Way. How Will The Line Change The Future Of Work?

    City-sized Buildings Are On The Way. How Will The Line Change The Future Of Work?

    What’s Your Job Worth In The Future Of Work?

    What’s Your Job Worth In The Future Of Work?

    3 Ways To Burn Fat At Work

    3 Ways To Burn Fat At Work

    Key

    Unlock Your Hidden Benefits

    8 Crucial Tax Filing Tips For Freelancers

    8 Crucial Tax Filing Tips For Freelancers

    Update Your Home Office For A Fresh, Focused New Year

    Update Your Home Office For A Fresh, Focused New Year

    gift ideas for digital nomads

    12 Last-Minute Gift Ideas For Digital Nomads

    A Guide For Workspace Mental Health Communication

    A Guide For Workspace Mental Health Communication

  • CRE
    Rapid Work Style Shifts Are Tanking Tax Revenues — Can City Planners Catch Up?

    Rapid Work Style Shifts Are Tanking Tax Revenues — Can City Planners Catch Up?

    San Francisco Skyline

    The Future of Commercial Real Estate in San Francisco Doesn’t Look Good

    3 Things CRE Players Must Do To Stay Relevant In 2023

    2023 Future Of Work Forecast: 3 Things CRE Players Must Do To Stay Relevant In 2023

    The Office Space Sector Is Projected To See A Strong Fourth Quarter In 2022

    The Office Space Sector Is Projected To See A Strong Fourth Quarter In 2022

    Meet Flex Space More Chaotic Cousin Gray Spaces

    Meet Flex Space’s More Chaotic Cousin: Gray Spaces

    The Future Of Our Offices And Our Planet Hinges On The Real Estate Industry Priorities

    The Future Of Our Offices — And Our Planet — Hinges On The Real Estate Industry’s Priorities

    JLL New Future Of Work Survey The Next Few Years Are Crucial For Commercial Real Estate (2)

    JLL’s New Future Of Work Survey: The Next Few Years Are Crucial For Commercial Real Estate

    What Is The Impact Of Hybrid Working On Space Optimization

    What Is The Impact Of Hybrid Working On Space Optimization?

    What Can We Expect For The Future Of Office Occupancy?

    What Can We Expect For The Future Of Office Occupancy?

  • Coworking
    Revive Your Coworking Space With A Wellness Program

    Revive Your Coworking Space With A Wellness Program

    How To Apply For Digital Nomad Visas In 4 Idyllic Work Destinations

    How To Apply For Digital Nomad Visas In 4 Idyllic Work Destinations

    I'm an Independent Coworking Center Operator Thriving in a City with 9 WeWorks

    I’m An Independent Coworking Center Operator Thriving In A City With 9 WeWorks

    Data Tracking Software Gives Coworking Operators Competitive Advantage

    Data Tracking Software Gives Coworking Operators Competitive Advantage

    The Story Behind WeWork’s Failed Locations

    The Story Behind WeWork’s Failed Locations

    What Is An “Open” Coworking Space? 

    What is an “Open” Coworking Space?

    The Pandemic’s Lasting Impact on the Future of Coworking

    The Pandemic’s Lasting Impact on the Future of Coworking

    What Does “Community” Mean In Coworking?

    What Does “Community” Mean In Coworking? Your Answer Matters

    Is WeWork Going Bust?

    Is WeWork Going Bust?

  • Workforce
    Rethinking Retirement Plans — Is Phased Retirement The Future?

    Rethinking Retirement Plans — Is Phased Retirement The Future?

    Is Marc Benioff of Salesforce Right That You Can't Integrate Junior Staff Remotely?

    Is Marc Benioff of Salesforce Right That You Can’t Integrate Junior Staff Remotely?

    4 Monumental Ways Banning Noncompete Clauses Will Transform The Future Of Work

    4 Monumental Ways Banning Noncompete Clauses Will Transform The Future Of Work

    What To Do If You’ve Been Quietly Promoted

    What To Do If You’ve Been Quietly Promoted

    Nurture Skills To Retain Employees

    Nurture Skills To Retain Employees

    The Four Horsemen of the Mandated Return to Office

    The Four Horsemen of the Mandated Return to Office

    Indeed & Glassdoor Economists Predict Continued Hiring Challenges

    Indeed & Glassdoor Economists Predict Continued Hiring Challenges

    Will Remote Work Be A Mandated Right In The Future Of Work?

    Will Remote Work Be A Mandated Right In The Future Of Work?

    Why It’s Time to Retire the Term Hybrid Work

    Why It’s Time to Retire the Term “Hybrid Work”

  • Podcast
  • Subscribe
  • All Topics
    • Business
    • Biophilic Design
    • Career Growth
    • Coliving
    • Collaboration
    • Coworking
    • CRE
    • DE&I
    • Digital Nomads
    • Future of Work
    • Home Office
    • Human Resources (HR)
    • Hybrid Work
    • Investment
    • Leadership
    • Marketing
    • Mental Health
    • Mergers & Acquisitions
    • Office Furniture
    • Productivity
    • PropTech
    • Remote Work
    • Self-care
    • SMBs
    • Social Impact
    • Space-as-a-Service
    • Technology
    • Virtual Office
    • Work-life Balance
    • Workforce
    • Workplace Design
    • Workplace Wellness
  • News
  • Business
    Flexible Work and Investment in ESG are Driving Profitability for this Global Brand

    Flexible Work and Investment in ESG are Driving Profitability for this Global Brand

    Disney’s Imagination Has Failed

    Disney’s Imagination Has Failed

    Can COVID Booster Shots Save Your Business?

    Can COVID Booster Shots Save Your Business? 

    Three Culture-Building Steps To Create A World-Class Company

    Three Culture-Building Steps To Create A World-Class Company

    How To Manage Partnership Risks In The Future Of Work

    How To Manage Partnership Risks In The Future Of Work

    What It Takes To Be A Hybrid LeaderWhat It Takes To Be A Hybrid Leader

    Dr. Gleb Tsipursky CEO Of Disaster Avoidance Experts | What It Takes To Be A Hybrid Leader

    HR Leaders Share How New Salary Transparency Laws Have Changed Everything

    HR Leaders Share How New Salary Transparency Laws Have Changed Everything

    Don’t Be Adidas: Making Better Decisions Fast Is Important For Business Leadership

    Don’t Be Adidas: Making Better Decisions Fast Is Important For Business Leadership

    Are Productivity Paranoia and Lack of Trust the Real Obstacles to Hybrid and Remote Work?

    Are Productivity Paranoia And Lack Of Trust The Real Obstacles To Hybrid And Remote Work?

  • Tech
    3 Steps To Build A Three-Dimensional Hybrid Workplace

    3 Steps To Build A Three-Dimensional Hybrid Workplace

    PETER MISCOVICH

    Peter Miscovich JLL Global Future Of Work Leader | The Hybrid Workplace Evolution: Unlocking The Future Of Work

    AI Is Transforming The Future Of Industrial Work

    AI Is Transforming The Future Of Industrial Work

    Reimagining Offices for Hybrid Work

    Reimagining Offices for Hybrid Work: Frameable.com CEO on the Future of Virtual Offices

    How AI Can Help The Humans Within Human Resources

    HR Professionals Are Burned Out. Can A.I. Help?

    FOWP Adam Riggs

    Adam Riggs CEO Of Frameable | Can a Virtual Experience Really Replace the Office?

    Five Ways Tech Will Change The Ways We Work In 2023

    2023 Future Of Work Forecast: Five Ways Tech Will Change The Ways We Work In 2023

    Six Steps To Start A Coworking Center In The Metaverse

    Six Steps To Start A Coworking Center In The Metaverse

    Could Meta Be the Solution to Zoom Fatigue?

    Meta Wants To Fix Ongoing Zoom Fatigue — But You’ll Be Waiting A While

  • Marketing
    Instagram GenZ

    2023 Instagram Trends Reveal How To Market To Gen Z

    2023 Future Of Work Forecast: Focus Marketing On Values and Customer Experience, Not The Product

    2023 Future Of Work Forecast: Focus Marketing On Values and Customer Experience, Not The Product

    Want Your Coworking Newsletter to Actually Convert

    Want Your Coworking Newsletter to Actually Convert? Start by Keeping It Simple, Fun, and Consistent

    5 Pros Share How To Use Instagram To Grow Your Coworking Business

    5 Pros Share How To Use Instagram To Grow Your Coworking Business

    Want To Wow Coworking Members

    Want To “Wow” Coworking Members? It All Starts With (The Right) Insights

    6 Free, High-Quality Photo Sites To Level Up Your Marketing

    6 Free, High-Quality Photo Sites To Level Up Your Marketing

    The Creator Economy Is Dramatically Changing Marketing Practices, Here’s Why

    The Creator Economy Is Dramatically Changing Marketing Practices, Here’s Why

    Everything You Need To Know About Google My Business, And How To Ace It

    Everything You Need To Know About Google My Business, And How To Ace It

    Nothing Beats In-Person Communication, But These Online Tools Come Pretty Close

    Nothing Beats In-Person Communication, But These Online Tools Come Pretty Close

  • Design
    The Secret Formula To Determine How (And How Often) Your Employees Should Work In The Office

    The Secret Formula To Determine How (And How Often) Your Employees Should Work In The Office

    Create A Neurodiverse Friendly Office In Just One Minute

    Start Creating A Neurodiverse Friendly Office In Just One Minute

    Get Employee Buy-in To Make Office Redesigns Matter

    Get Employee Buy-in To Make Office Redesigns Matter

    How To Make Your Hybrid Office Accessible To All

    How To Make Your Hybrid Office Accessible To All

    Design Of Smart Office Spaces In The Post Pandemic World

    The Future Of Work Demands Futuristic Office Tech

    Designing Leadership Spaces for Hybrid Work

    Designing Leadership Spaces for Hybrid Work

    Resources And Tips To Harness The Power Of Interior Design For Environmental Impact — And Employee Retention

    Resources And Tips To Harness The Power Of Interior Design For Environmental Impact — And Employee Retention

    Designing Human Centric Workplaces Is Key To Hybrid Program Success

    Designing Human-Centric Workplaces Is Key To Hybrid Program Success

    2023 Future Of Work Forecast: Designing Offices For Evolving Workforce Needs

    2023 Future Of Work Forecast: Office Design Is Ever-Evolving; Here Are 5 Trends For 2023

  • Work-life
    5 Brain-Boosting Snacks To Power Your Work Day

    5 Brain-Boosting Snacks To Power Your Work Day

    City-sized Buildings Are On The Way. How Will The Line Change The Future Of Work?

    City-sized Buildings Are On The Way. How Will The Line Change The Future Of Work?

    What’s Your Job Worth In The Future Of Work?

    What’s Your Job Worth In The Future Of Work?

    3 Ways To Burn Fat At Work

    3 Ways To Burn Fat At Work

    Key

    Unlock Your Hidden Benefits

    8 Crucial Tax Filing Tips For Freelancers

    8 Crucial Tax Filing Tips For Freelancers

    Update Your Home Office For A Fresh, Focused New Year

    Update Your Home Office For A Fresh, Focused New Year

    gift ideas for digital nomads

    12 Last-Minute Gift Ideas For Digital Nomads

    A Guide For Workspace Mental Health Communication

    A Guide For Workspace Mental Health Communication

  • CRE
    Rapid Work Style Shifts Are Tanking Tax Revenues — Can City Planners Catch Up?

    Rapid Work Style Shifts Are Tanking Tax Revenues — Can City Planners Catch Up?

    San Francisco Skyline

    The Future of Commercial Real Estate in San Francisco Doesn’t Look Good

    3 Things CRE Players Must Do To Stay Relevant In 2023

    2023 Future Of Work Forecast: 3 Things CRE Players Must Do To Stay Relevant In 2023

    The Office Space Sector Is Projected To See A Strong Fourth Quarter In 2022

    The Office Space Sector Is Projected To See A Strong Fourth Quarter In 2022

    Meet Flex Space More Chaotic Cousin Gray Spaces

    Meet Flex Space’s More Chaotic Cousin: Gray Spaces

    The Future Of Our Offices And Our Planet Hinges On The Real Estate Industry Priorities

    The Future Of Our Offices — And Our Planet — Hinges On The Real Estate Industry’s Priorities

    JLL New Future Of Work Survey The Next Few Years Are Crucial For Commercial Real Estate (2)

    JLL’s New Future Of Work Survey: The Next Few Years Are Crucial For Commercial Real Estate

    What Is The Impact Of Hybrid Working On Space Optimization

    What Is The Impact Of Hybrid Working On Space Optimization?

    What Can We Expect For The Future Of Office Occupancy?

    What Can We Expect For The Future Of Office Occupancy?

  • Coworking
    Revive Your Coworking Space With A Wellness Program

    Revive Your Coworking Space With A Wellness Program

    How To Apply For Digital Nomad Visas In 4 Idyllic Work Destinations

    How To Apply For Digital Nomad Visas In 4 Idyllic Work Destinations

    I'm an Independent Coworking Center Operator Thriving in a City with 9 WeWorks

    I’m An Independent Coworking Center Operator Thriving In A City With 9 WeWorks

    Data Tracking Software Gives Coworking Operators Competitive Advantage

    Data Tracking Software Gives Coworking Operators Competitive Advantage

    The Story Behind WeWork’s Failed Locations

    The Story Behind WeWork’s Failed Locations

    What Is An “Open” Coworking Space? 

    What is an “Open” Coworking Space?

    The Pandemic’s Lasting Impact on the Future of Coworking

    The Pandemic’s Lasting Impact on the Future of Coworking

    What Does “Community” Mean In Coworking?

    What Does “Community” Mean In Coworking? Your Answer Matters

    Is WeWork Going Bust?

    Is WeWork Going Bust?

  • Workforce
    Rethinking Retirement Plans — Is Phased Retirement The Future?

    Rethinking Retirement Plans — Is Phased Retirement The Future?

    Is Marc Benioff of Salesforce Right That You Can't Integrate Junior Staff Remotely?

    Is Marc Benioff of Salesforce Right That You Can’t Integrate Junior Staff Remotely?

    4 Monumental Ways Banning Noncompete Clauses Will Transform The Future Of Work

    4 Monumental Ways Banning Noncompete Clauses Will Transform The Future Of Work

    What To Do If You’ve Been Quietly Promoted

    What To Do If You’ve Been Quietly Promoted

    Nurture Skills To Retain Employees

    Nurture Skills To Retain Employees

    The Four Horsemen of the Mandated Return to Office

    The Four Horsemen of the Mandated Return to Office

    Indeed & Glassdoor Economists Predict Continued Hiring Challenges

    Indeed & Glassdoor Economists Predict Continued Hiring Challenges

    Will Remote Work Be A Mandated Right In The Future Of Work?

    Will Remote Work Be A Mandated Right In The Future Of Work?

    Why It’s Time to Retire the Term Hybrid Work

    Why It’s Time to Retire the Term “Hybrid Work”

  • Podcast
  • Subscribe
No Result
View All Result
Allwork.Space
No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Business
  • Tech
  • Marketing
  • Design
  • Work-life
  • CRE
  • Coworking
  • Workforce
  • Podcasts
  • Subscribe
ORND office Image Leaderboard
Home Business

The Green Economy Provides Many Gig Jobs

by Jo Meunier
September 10, 2021
in Business, Workforce
Reading Time: 18 mins read
A A
The Green Economy Provides Many Gig Jobs

Ever wondered how the shift from fossil fuels to renewable sources will impact the economy? We explore how a green economy works and its impact on jobs, skills, and the future of work.

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare to Network
Nexudus May Leaderboard
  • What is the green economy and why is it happening?
  • How will the green economy impact the job market?
  • How can workers prepare for these changes?

Q: What is the green economy?

A: A green economy is an economy built on sustainability and renewable energy sources rather than fossil fuels.


To build a healthy and sustainable future of work, we need a healthy and sustainable environment.

That goes for our local communities as well as the global environment.

After all, a sustainable environment is crucial in order to build businesses, create jobs, stimulate growth and enable people to enjoy healthier, happier lives.

As the International Labour Organization puts it, “The world of work needs environmental sustainability.”

That’s why the green economy is so important.

The term ‘green economy’ refers to the economy’s gradual move toward renewable energy, with less reliance on fossil fuels and non-renewable energy sources.

It is also linked to green jobs and efforts to build a better standard of living, globally.

While the opportunities for a greener, healthier and more sustainable future are clear, the transition poses significant challenges along the way.

How will the green economy impact jobs? What skills does it require? How will workers in fossil fuel sectors transition to the new requirements of renewable energy?

In this article, we address some of the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead as the world shifts toward a green economy, and what this means for the future of work.


What Is the Green Economy and Why Is it Happening?

What are the characteristics of a green economy?

A green economy is an economy built on sustainability and renewable energy sources rather than fossil fuels.

Here’s how the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) defines the green economy:

A green economy is defined as low carbon, resource efficient, and socially inclusive. In a green economy, growth in employment and income are driven by public and private investment into such economic activities, infrastructure, and assets that allow reduced carbon emissions and pollution, enhanced energy, and resource efficiency, and prevention of the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services.

Why ‘green’?

The term ‘green economy’ was first coined in a 1989 report for the UK government, entitled Blueprint for a Green Economy (Pearce, Markandya and Barbier, 1989).

However, the link between the green economy and sustainable development has long been evident.

The global financial crisis of 2007-2008 was a turning point. 

It was seen as an opportunity to “promote green economy initiatives as part of the stimulus packages being put in place to support the recovery.”

The green economy was also the central theme of the UN conference on Sustainable Development held in Rio in 2012.

Today, the term is used to describe a framework for “building economies that are fairer, greener and more resilient” [Green Economy Coalition], and discussion around sustainability has become a key part of the global agenda.

Why is the green economy happening?

Environmental damage cannot be ignored.

These challenges and crises are interconnected with climate change, biodiversity loss, growing inequality, and more.

According to the Green Economy Coalition (GEC), “our economic systems are not fit enough to deliver a good balance of environmental and social goals”, which is why we need to upgrade our economy to enable a more inclusive and sustainable future.

A green economy is designed to build a financial system with the purpose of delivering wellbeing and sustainability, set up in ways that safely serve the interests of society.

The 5 Principles of a Green Economy

The GEC’s five principles of a green economy outline the core framework of this system:

  1. Wellbeing: A green economy enables all people to create and enjoy prosperity. A green economy is people-centred and focuses on growing wealth to support wellbeing, with opportunities for green and decent livelihoods, enterprises and jobs.
  2. Justice: It promotes equity within and between generations. It is inclusive and non-discriminatory, and promotes the equitable distribution of opportunity and outcome, reducing disparities between people.
  3. Planetary Boundaries: The green economy safeguards, restores and invests in nature. It recognizes and nurtures nature’s diverse values, and invests in protecting, growing and restoring biodiversity, soil, water, air, and natural systems.
  4. Efficiency and Sufficiency: The green economy is geared to support sustainable consumption and production. An inclusive green economy is low-carbon, resource-conserving, diverse and circular.
  5. Good Governance: The green economy is guided by integrated, accountable and resilient institutions. It is evidence-based, supported by institutions that are integrated, collaborative and coherent, requires public participation, and promotes devolved decision-making.

Examples of the Green Economy

There are many different green economy examples.

An obvious one is Denmark, which is leading the world in slowing its growth in CO2 emissions. It is ranked as the world’s greenest country by the Environmental Performance Index (EPI).

More than 30% of Denmark’s energy needs come from renewables. It expects to reach 50% by 2030, and by 2050, Denmark aims to be 100% independent of fossil fuels altogether.

How is Denmark achieving its green economy aims?

For decades, Denmark has been reconciling economic growth with ambitious green policies, and has managed to decouple economic growth from its overall energy consumption.

As this chart shows, since 1990 Danish GDP has continued to increase while energy consumption has only increased by 6% and water consumption has decreased by 40%.

This proves that it is possible to create economic growth without using more energy.

There is no single road to a green and prosperous economy.

In Denmark’s case, it has taken decades of long-term planning, framework legislation, and broad political agreements.

It takes a holistic approach that requires a lot of collaboration across sectors. For instance, Denmark attributes its current green economy successes to a variety of collaborations:

  • Collaboration between the water and electricity sector, where sludge from wastewater treatment plants is used to produce energy.
  • The cogeneration of heat and electricity, where surplus heat from electricity production is used to heat water piped into the district heating system.
  • In cities, waste from citizens is used to produce heat and electricity.
  • Climate adaptation solutions above ground prevent flooding in the cities, while simultaneously creating greener and more liveable cities.
  • Denmark’s electricity trade with neighbouring countries enables it to secure supply and high integration of renewables into its energy system.

Despite its world recognition as a leading green economy, Denmark’s model is not (yet) perfect.

The OECD notes that while Denmark is “a leader in eco-innovation” there are areas that require significant work, including waste generation, which “remains the highest in the OECD area”. It also notes that “many bodies of water do not reach good ecological status”.

Denmark acknowledges that it has work to do, and that it requires “a genuine paradigm shift in Danish energy policy in the coming years” in order to fulfil its 2050 vision.

But, Denmark is proving that green business is good business, and its sustainable model serves as a beacon for the rest of the world to follow.

Global Initiatives and Green Deals

In many cases, green economy growth is happening with the help of a Green New Deal.

A Green New Deal aims to create jobs, reduce economic inequality and address climate change, by focusing on transitioning to more sustainable and environmentally friendly sources.

In 2009, a report commissioned by UNEP — ‘A Global Green New Deal’ — was published in response to the multiple global crises of 2008.

It proposed policy actions that would stimulate economic recovery and at the same time improve the sustainability of the world economy.

Since the early 2000s, and especially since 2018, numerous other proposals for a ‘Green New Deal’ have arisen both in the U.S. and internationally.

In the U.S., the Green New Deal was initially introduced in 2019, and again in 2021.

The resolution seeks to eliminate U.S. greenhouse gas emissions within a decade and transition the economy away from fossil fuels.

Joe Biden’s victory in the US presidential election is expected to generate positive momentum for the energy transition, as Biden is committed to tackling climate change and supporting clean energy.

So if you’re wondering, ‘Is the green economy good?’

Potentially, yes — because it is designed to reduce negative environmental impacts from fossil fuels while opening up new job opportunities based on renewable energy in the future.

That being said, there is still plenty of opposition and challenges ahead, particularly in regards to the wage floors involved in the task.

One of the biggest concerns is its impact on jobs, which we’ll explore next.


How Will the Green Economy Impact the Job Market?

Transitioning to a more sustainable economy has clear advantages, but there are concerns over how it will impact the jobs market.

What are the challenges of the green economy?

The major challenges to the green economy are the sweeping infrastructure changes involved and the replacement and creation of well-paying jobs.

As the world moves to a greener economy, a report by the International Labour Organization (ILO) — Greening with Jobs — estimates that 6 million jobs will be lost, including in the areas of petroleum extraction and refinery, coal mining and production of electricity from coal.

However, if we do nothing, or if we fail to transition to a greener economy, the same report estimates that 72 million full-time jobs will be lost by 2030.

This is based on projected temperature increases and environmental degradation, which impacts jobs and working conditions to the point where heat stress and temperature increases will lead to shorter available work hours, particularly in agriculture.

In contrast, providing the right policies for a greener economy are put in place, the ILO claims that 24 million new jobs could be created globally by 2030.

“Environmental sustainability is not a job killer, as it is sometimes claimed. On the contrary, if properly managed, it can lead to more and better jobs, poverty reduction and social inclusion.” — Juan Somavia, ILO [2012]

What Are Green Economy Jobs?

Definitions vary, but this typically refers to jobs that have a positive impact on renewable energy, electric transport, energy efficiency, or nature conservation.

Green jobs are not just about building wind farms or recycling construction waste.

As more companies and sectors transition to low-carbon models, every job has the potential to become ‘green’. Recruitment, purchasing, brokering, insuring, consulting, designing, researching, training… the list goes on.

Here are 10 green jobs as listed by The Greener Deal:

  • Urban farmers
  • Solar photovoltaic installers
Solar photovoltaic installers
  • Wind turbine specialists
Wind turbine specialists
  • Green home builders (green retrofitters)
Green home builders (green retrofitters)
  • Green designers, planners and architects
Green designers, planners and architects
  • Sustainability consultants
Sustainability consultants
  • Environmental scientists
Environmental scientists
  • Wave energy producers
Wave energy producers
  • Hydropower technicians
Hydropower technicians
  • Environmental engineer
Environmental engineer

These are just 10 job roles in the green economy.

Now consider all of the analysts, developers, programmers, managers, executives, assistants, and apprentices — to name a few — involved with each and every one of these roles.

As the green economy grows, it’s easy to see how jobs can evolve and grow with it.

Is the Green Economy the New Gig Economy?

As with every industry evolution, change can be a slow-turning wheel.

Initially, jobs may focus on the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources.

For example, there will be a need for the construction of new power plants. This will inevitably open up a lot of opportunities for construction workers.

However, these roles may be temporary. Once the plant is constructed, the initial contract will come to an end.

And depending on funding available, there could be discrepancies in pay compared with salaries from traditional companies operating within fossil fuel sectors.

Does this mean that the green economy is essentially a gig economy?

The gig economy is characterised by short-term jobs or ‘gigs’. Instead of a regular wage, workers get paid for the ‘gigs’ they do, such as a food delivery or a car journey.

In a green economy there will undoubtedly be gig workers, just as there are now.

For example, in a survey of over 1,300 oil and gas workers in the UK, 74% of respondents are employed ad-hoc as contractors rather than as ‘core crew’ employees.

Some people prefer the flexibility of these short-term roles, or see it as an opportunity to earn extra money or fill in an employment gap.

However, some employers provide temporary or ‘gig’ recruitment as it offers them the flexibility to make changes to job roles or conditions with little or no notice. There is ongoing concern over this approach, which is seen as worker exploitation.

Whether there are more or less gig workers in the future will depend on the development of green jobs and the implementation of green economy policies.


How Can Workers Prepare for These Changes?

As with any large-scale evolutionary change that targets long-term prosperity, the green economy has a lot of potential for new, skilled positions to emerge.

However, as new green jobs begin to materialise, there may not be the appropriate skills readily available to keep up with demand.

There is also the challenge of transitioning workers from one sector to another.

For example, in the UK, a survey of 1,383 offshore oil and gas workers (approximately 5% of the offshore workforce) in September 2020 revealed some of the significant barriers workers are facing.

In particular, “the vast majority” of respondents identified training costs as a major barrier to successfully transitioning to other areas of the energy sector, with many workers paying thousands of pounds to complete their own training courses.

report found

The report concluded that there are “inadequacies and issues” around training infrastructure for offshore workers, and that this is a growing problem.

This is one example of the skills gap that exists as the world transitions to a greener economy.

Upskilling of the workforce is essential as industries evolve, and individuals will need retraining and financial support to make that viable.

“Fundamental Skills”

The green economy requires a vast range of skills, ranging from the mechanical to the analytical.

Interestingly, amid these changes, the most valued skills are considered to be “fundamental skills” – active listening, speaking, critical thinking, and reading comprehension.

In other words, it is our human skills that are in-demand.

“Even as newer and greener occupations prioritize analytical skills and revive the need for mechanical skills in some cases, they share one essential trait with older occupations. Regardless of which group of occupations is examined, active listening, speaking, critical thinking and reading comprehension feature at the top of the list of skills ratings. In other words, preparation in fundamental skills remains the common currency in the workplace.” — Pew Research, 2020

What can workers do now?

Workers should stay up to date with developments within their industry in order to learn about new opportunities for retraining or skills utilisation.

For instance, in the report referencing oil and gas workers, the organisations that commissioned the report (Friends of the Earth Scotland, Platform, Greenpeace, RMT and Unite Scotland) are campaigning for solutions to the skills gap.

It’s also important for workers to begin learning new skills to equip themselves for the transition to the emerging green economy.

For instance, workers who understand the logistics of planning and implementing solar farms will be in high demand as infrastructure changes occur.

As these job roles emerge, there will undoubtedly be opportunities for contractual or ‘gig’ work.

Embracing gig work may be a way of getting ahead of the emerging green economy, and learning the skills necessary to succeed moving forward.

But workers should do so with as much research and planning as possible.

While flexible roles might provide the opportunity for immediate work and experience, the obvious downside is the potentially short lifespan of the work.

As with any short-term job, workers planning on taking temporary positions should always consider what comes next. Whether they can utilise this experience and continue onto other related jobs, or transition to another field entirely, having a plan will be crucial if they are to avoid unemployment once the project is complete.


Conclusion

The future of work may be green. But what about right now?

The green economy is coming at a time when the world is navigating the pandemic, and seeking to emerge with the help of a green and sustainable recovery.

In the words of Paula McGinnell from Cyan Finance, which provides finance to businesses and projects in the green, sustainable and socially positive economy:

“Green jobs build resilience, and the economic opportunity they provide is the largest we’ll see in our lifetime.”

McGinnell notes that demand for sustainable business is rapidly increasing, but there are still many hurdles to overcome.

Top of the list is skills, particularly as workers seek to transition from traditional industries reliant on fossil fuels to one focused on cleaner energy.

However, while there are many potential issues facing those who work to transition the country’s energy to renewable sources, there are also opportunities.

“With its emphasis on the environment and the sustainable use of resources, the green economy has stimulated employment in existing engineering and production jobs, ranging from industrial engineers to electricians…” — Pew Research, 2020

Gaining new skills — whether reskilling, upskilling, or learning from scratch — is the core of our successful future as we face this economic shift together.

A greener economy means a greener future, and the more people, businesses, and governments that can innovate and build solutions to sustain our environment, the more we can preserve a healthier future for everyone.

Later Ad
Tags: FUTURE OF WORK®SMBsTechnology
Jo Meunier

Jo Meunier

Jo is Allwork.Space's Senior Editor for the UK and Europe. Jo has worked within business centre and coworking circles since 2009, researching and contributing written features for numerous industry publications. She reports on the latest market news and delves into local issues with one main objective: to champion the flexible workspace industry and its members.

No Result
View All Result

How will work change in 2023?

Subscribe today to know what's changing tomorrow.

* indicates required
100% FREE. You can unsubscribe or manage your preferences at any time.
Yardi
UltraSoft June
Podcast Promo FOWP 300x250
Grammarly Writing Support
Later Social Media Ad

Listen to the experts themselves

News and Features

Business

Tech

Marketing

Design

Work-life

CRE

Coworking

Workforce

Daily Digest

Podcast

Resources

Marketplace

Events

Press Releases

FlexSpace, Coworking
and Office Space

Los Angeles

New York

Chicago

Washington, D.C.

Houston

Dallas

Miami

San Francisco

Atlanta

Philadelphia

Seattle

Austin

Company

About Us

Submit to Allwork.Space

Contact

Advertise

FlexSpace

Terms Of Use

FlexSpace FAQs

Privacy Policy

Connect with Allwork.Space

Twitter

Linkedin

Facebook

Instagram

YouTube

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Google Podcasts

©2022 Allwork.Space  l  Exploring the FUTURE OF WORK® since 2003.

No Result
View All Result
  • Daily Digest
  • Podcasts
  • Events
  • Resources
  • Marketplace
  • Business Directory
  • Subscribe
  • Advertise
  • Find Space
  • About Us
  • Submit to Allwork.Space

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
-
00:00
00:00

Queue

Update Required Flash plugin
-
00:00
00:00