Emphasis on green jobs
Ramani Kangaraarachchi
Sri Lanka has been selected as one of the five countries in the Asia
Pacific region where the “Green jobs” project will be implemented during
the next two years. In Sri Lanka the project activities will include
research studies on linkages between the environment ,employment and the
economy, training and awareness- raising programs to address the needs
of social partners and a demonstration project for the creation of green
jobs and decent work.
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Labour Minister Gamini Lokuge pledging support to the
promotion of Green Jobs in Sri Lanka. |
This project will be jointly implemented by ILO office and the Labour
and Labour Relations Ministry and trade unions.
ILO Country Director, Donglin Li speaking at the National Green Jobs
Conference in Colombo yesterday said there is much room for knowledge
sharing and policy intervention in the area of green jobs in Sri Lanka.
He expressed confidence in the national conference to be helpful in this
regard.
Green jobs are expected to reduce the environmental impact of
enterprises and economic sectors, ultimately to levels that are
sustainable. This includes jobs that help to protect ecosystems and
bio-diversity, reduce energy ,materials, and water consumption through
high-efficiency strategies, de-carbonize the economy, and minimize or
altogether avoid generation of all forms of waste and pollution.
The Green jobs in Asia project aims to deepen the commitment of ILO
constituents to gender-sensitive green jobs opportunities and their
understanding of a just transition for workers and employers to
low-carbon, climate resilient, environmentally friendly development.
Li said Sri Lanka has also been active in the international arena in
advocating climate change and environmental sustainability issues.
The environmental issues are articulated in the National Action Plan
for Haritha Lanka program and the national climate adaptation strategy.
The conference is a timely forum to discuss ways of supporting
environmentally, economically and socially sustainable enterprises and
development as well as the creation of more green jobs in Sri Lanka
which will contribute to national development programs and initiatives
on climate change and the environment. |
