By 2030, the global economy will create more green jobs than the number lost during the pandemic if investments in renewable energy are increased in line with sustainability targets set under the Paris Agreements, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) has said.
In its new Renewable Energy and Jobs Annual review 2021, complied in partnership with the International Labour Organisation, IRENA predicts that some 25 million new green jobs will be
In addition, IRENA expects some 5 million workers who lost their positions as a result of the pandemic to find new jobs in the same occupation in another industry.
Following the 1.5ºC pathway will result in the creation of some 38 million new positions within the renewables sector and 43 million by 2050, according to IRENA. Of these, the solar segment will account for a lion’s share with 19.9 million, followed by the bio-energy sector which is anticipated to create 13.7 million new positions.
China accounted for 39% of the total jobs in the renewables sector in 2020 whilst the solar segment reached 2 million jobs. The hydropower sector stood at number three with 3 million positions and the wind sector at number four with 1,254 jobs.
Source: Smart Energy