There is a common solution to the economic crisis and the climate crisis – a clean energy boom that will create jobs today.
A recent CSIRO study indicates that 2.7 million jobs could be created in Australia over the next 15 years if we move to a cleaner, low carbon economy. Up to one million of these could be clean energy jobs using traditional skills in new industries like solar, wind, water and recycling.1
These are big numbers and big opportunities, but if we don’t take strong action on climate change and invest in clean energy jobs now, the economic opportunities will pass us by.
Germany created 76,000 new jobs in renewable energy (to reach a total of 236,000) in just two years between 2004 and 2006, underpinned by their strong renewable energy laws and complementary Green Skills programs.2
And although it’s known for car giants like BMW, Mercedes and Volkswagen, by 2020 Germany is projected to have more jobs in the field of environmental technologies than in its entire car industry.3
We’re not talking niche jobs. Clean energy jobs include large scale, heavy industry jobs that exist now. It’s estimated that the renewable energy sector worldwide already employs 2.3 million people – more than the total number employed directly by the oil and gas industry.4
The global ‘low carbon and environmental goods’ sector is now valued at A$6.1 trillion.5
We can generate more jobs if we take strong action on climate change. But we have to be the leader now – with new technologies, jobs and industries - to win the race.
Clean energy jobs creation depends on Australia moving forward over the coming weeks and months with strong climate policy both at home and on the international stage.
What are Clean Energy Jobs?
Clean energy jobs are jobs that contribute to better environmental outcomes or increased sustainability, and the good news is they’re set to boom in the 21st century as we move towards a global low carbon economy.
Clean energy jobs range from low-skill, entry-level positions to high-skill, higher-paid jobs, and include opportunities for advancement in both skills and wages.
From engineers to construction workers, carpenters to plumbers, transport workers to surveyors thousands of jobs will be created via a clean energy boom.
Below are some of the key sectors and clean energy jobs available now and in the future.
Producing energy from renewable resources - via solar, wind, geothermal, tidal and hydro power - will open up thousands of job opportunities for Australians.
Many of these jobs will be in rural and regional Australia, and will include jobs for builders, electricians, linespeople, fitters/mechanics, systems controllers, plant technicians, metalworkers, crane operators, engineers, power station operators, project managers, production/performance managers, system designers, system managers. A strong renewable industry could employ 375,000 people by 2030.
Case Studies
Case Study 1
Case Study 2
Case Study 3
Up to 230,000 people could be employed in building construction and retrofitting – both residential and commercial - by 2030.
These will be a mix of both low skilled and highly specialised jobs, with a focus on the trades workforce.
Jobs will include building designers, carpenters, demolishers, green electricians, painters and decorators, green plumbers, refrigeration and heating/cooling technicians, sustainability auditors and assessors, installers, certifiers, project managers, quantity surveyors, site supervisors, architects, engineers, interior designers, facilities managers, and property managers.
Case Study
Improving the way we produce and use energy could create thousands of new jobs for Australians. By 2030, 75,000 people could be employed in the energy efficiency sector1 with new jobs stemming from retrofitting residential and commercial buildings and appliances, and from improving industrial production systems.
These jobs will be both low skilled and highly specialised and could include energy assessors, green electricians, installers and technicians, manufacturing workers (eg. solar hot water), engineers, architects, facility managers and project managers.
New jobs in this industry will be created by the installation and manufacture of water systems with efficiency improvements and alternative treatment technologies. By 2030, this industry could employ 66,000 Australians.
There will be jobs for plumbers, hydrographers, irrigation operators, remote sensing technicians, save water assistants, trade waste controllers, water auditors, environmental managers, irrigation managers, project managers, site supervisors (dam, hydro-electric).
New jobs can be created by increasing and improving recycling and waste management efforts. By 2030, this industry could employ 45,000 Australians.
This could include jobs for drivers, line workers (processing and recycled products), engineers, product designers, and production, line and facility managers.
With the right investment, jobs creating new materials from renewable sources (such as container plastics made from corn starch) could reach 36,000 by 2030.
These include farm workers (collection of inputs), drivers, line workers (transport, initial processing, manufacture) biochemical engineers, land managers, and production, line and facility managers.
References
1 CSIRO, 2008; Green Gold Rush Report, 2008
2 http://www.bmu.de/
3 http://www.fco.gov.uk/
4 Ban Ki-moon, “Green growth is essential to any stimulus”, Financial Times, 17 February 2009.
5 Innovas, commissioned by the UK Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Regorm (2009), Low Carbon and Environmental Goods and Services: an industry analysis, at page 5, see http://www.berr.gov.uk/