Up-Skill to De-Carbonize: Unlocking the Employment Potential of the Low-Carbon Economy
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The transition to a climate-resilient, low-carbon economy could create nearly 375 million additional jobs over the next decade, while reshaping work for hundreds of millions more. This transformation presents a major opportunity to create quality employment, strengthen livelihoods, accelerate climate action and build more resilient economies that are less affected by geopolitical crises and external shocks.
But the opportunity is not guaranteed. Skills shortages are already slowing the delivery of clean energy, infrastructure and other transition investments. And people working in changing industries must be equipped to build new skills, secure good jobs and protect their livelihoods. The good news is that this is achievable and affordable. Working in partnership, policymakers, business leaders and civil society can close the skills gap, with returns for economies and communities that far exceed the investment needed. A transition that puts people first is fairer, more resilient, and delivers better outcomes for everyone.
The high-level session “Up-Skill to De-Carbonize: Unlocking the Employment Potential of the Low-Carbon Economy”, organized by the Global Initiative on Jobs and Skills for the New Economy together with the COP31 Presidency and the UNFCCC Secretariat, brings together COP Presidencies and leaders from government, businesses, international organizations and investors to turn global ambition on jobs and skills into targeted national action.
The program will feature two high-level panel discussions:
- Turning Global Ambition into Country Action: showcasing how countries are integrating jobs and skills into climate, economic and development strategies, and identifying common priorities and challenges for implementation.
- Scaling Skills Through Finance, Institutions and Partnerships: exploring how public and private finance, stronger institutions, technology and partnerships can accelerate workforce transformation and scale solutions across countries and sectors.
Speakers include:
- Fatma Varank, CEO COP31, Deputy Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, Türkiye
- Heike Henn, designated State Secretary, Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN), Germany
- Daniele Violetti, Senior Director for Programmes Coordination, UNFCCC
- Ingrid-Gabriela Hoven, Managing Director, GIZ
- Tuğba Dinçbaş, Director of COP31 Action Agenda, Türkiye
- Ani Dasgupta, CEO, World Resources Institute
- Liesbet Steer, Executive Director, People in the New Economy, Systemiq; Sustainable Business COP Ambassador
- Frauke Röser, Co-Founder New Climate Institute
- Kitty van der Heijden, Deputy Executive Director, Partnerships, UNICEF
Additional speakers to be announced shortly
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