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Does climate action destroy jobs? An assessment of the employment implications of the 2‐degree goal

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  • Guillermo MONTT
  • Kirsten S. WIEBE
  • Marek HARSDORFF
  • Moana SIMAS
  • Antoine BONNET
  • Richard WOOD

Abstract

The Paris Agreement lays out the objective of keeping global warming below 2 °C. The goal can be achieved by increasing both the share of renewables in the energy mix and energy efficiency. Such action entails a transformation of the energy sector, which, given its linkages with the rest of the economy, will have a knock‐on effect on other sectors. Using scenarios based on a multiregional input–output database, this article explores the economy‐wide and worldwide employment impact of such a transition. Findings suggest that by 2030 most economies will experience net job creation and reallocation across industries. Job creation is driven by the construction, manufacturing and renewables sectors.

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  • Guillermo MONTT & Kirsten S. WIEBE & Marek HARSDORFF & Moana SIMAS & Antoine BONNET & Richard WOOD, 2018. "Does climate action destroy jobs? An assessment of the employment implications of the 2‐degree goal," International Labour Review, International Labour Organization, vol. 157(4), pages 519-556, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:intlab:v:157:y:2018:i:4:p:519-556
    DOI: 10.1111/ilr.12118
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    2. Dominique MÉDA, 2019. "Three scenarios for the future of work," International Labour Review, International Labour Organization, vol. 158(4), pages 627-652, December.
    3. Kelly Sims & Soyoung Oh, 2023. "Job creation and deep decarbonization," Oxford Review of Economic Policy, Oxford University Press and Oxford Review of Economic Policy Limited, vol. 39(4), pages 765-778.
    4. Malerba, Daniele, 2021. "What are the distributional implications of climate policies? Recent evidence from developing countries," Briefing Papers 3/2021, German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS).
    5. Celani de Macedo, Alessandra & Cantore, Nicola & Barbier, Laura & Matteini, Marco & Pasqualetto, Giorgia, 2020. "The Impact of Industrial Energy Efficiency on Economic and Social Indicators," FACTS: Firms And Cities Towards Sustainability 305185, Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei (FEEM) > FACTS: Firms And Cities Towards Sustainability.
    6. Nicholas Stern & Anna Valero, 2021. "Innovation, growth and the transition to net-zero emissions," CEP Discussion Papers dp1773, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
    7. Nicholas Stern & Anna Valero, 2021. "Innovation, growth and the transition to net-zero emissions," POID Working Papers 008, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
    8. Malerba, Daniele, 2021. "Welche Verteilungsfragen ergeben sich aus der Klimapolitik? Aktuelle Erkenntnisse aus Entwicklungsländern," Analysen und Stellungnahmen 1/2021, German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS).
    9. Raimi, Daniel & Greenspon, Jacob, 2022. "Matching Geographies and Job Skills in the Energy Transition," RFF Working Paper Series 22-25, Resources for the Future.
    10. Rissman, Jeffrey & Bataille, Chris & Masanet, Eric & Aden, Nate & Morrow, William R. & Zhou, Nan & Elliott, Neal & Dell, Rebecca & Heeren, Niko & Huckestein, Brigitta & Cresko, Joe & Miller, Sabbie A., 2020. "Technologies and policies to decarbonize global industry: Review and assessment of mitigation drivers through 2070," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 266(C).
    11. Christian Lutz & Lisa Becker & Andreas Kemmler, 2021. "Socioeconomic Effects of Ambitious Climate Mitigation Policies in Germany," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-20, June.
    12. Stern, Nicholas & Valero, Anna, 2021. "Innovation, growth and the transition to net-zero emissions," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 50(9).
    13. Malerba, Daniele & Gaentzsch, Anja & Ward, Hauke, 2021. "Mitigating poverty: The patterns of multiple carbon tax and recycling regimes for Peru," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).
    14. Stern, Nicholas & Sivropoulos-Valero, Anna Valero, 2021. "Innovation, growth and the transition to net-zero emissions," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 114385, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.

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