GREEN

JOBS
SUCCESSES AND
OPPORTUNITIES
FOR EUROPE
CONTENT page

BOOSTING JOBS AND ECONOMIC RECOVERY 4

WHAT ARE GREEN JOBS? 6

CREATING GREEN JOBS 8

EXPLOITING THE FULL JOB POTENTIAL 12

SAFEGUARDING COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES 14

DRIVING DOWN COSTS, PROMOTING DECENT WORK 16

A SOCIALLY JUST GREEN TRANSITION 18

THE RIGHT TO TRAINING AND EDUCATION 20

WOMEN IN GREEN JOBS 22

SUCCESS STORIES: GREEN JOB CREATION IN EUROPE 25

2 GREEN JOBS # SUCCESSES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR EUROPE

SUCCESS STORIES: GREEN JOB CREATION IN EUROPE page

THE VILLAGE OF ANAVRA, GREECE:

SUSTAINABLE LOCAL DEVELOPMENT FOR JOBS AND PROSPERITY 26

BREMERHAVEN, GERMANY:
JOBS FOR WORKERS FROM DECLINING INDUSTRIES 30

BRUSSELS AND WALLONIA, BELGIUM:

CREATING VIABLE ECONOMIES AND LOCAL JOBS 34

BURGENLAND, AUSTRIA:
LOCAL, GREEN ENERGY AND NEW JOBS 38

LE MANS AND THE PAYS DE LA LOIRE REGION, FRANCE:

JOBS FOR WORKERS FROM DECLINING INDUSTRIES 42

THE REGION OF NAVARRA, SPAIN:

CREATING JOBS AND A RESILIENT ECONOMY 46

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM:

LOCAL COMMUNITIES FOR GREEN SKILLS AND JOBS 50

THE CZECH REPUBLIC:

NEW JOBS AND ENERGY SAVINGS 54

3 GREEN JOBS # SUCCESSES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR EUROPE

BOOSTING
JOBS AND
ECONOMIC
RECOVERY

Unemployment is one of Europe’s most

pressing problems. More than 25 million
Europeans - more than 10% of the active
population - are out of work. The situation
faced by young people is even bleaker, with
almost one in four young adults aged under
25 jobless. In the hardest-hit European
countries, like Greece or Spain, more than
half of all young people are unemployed
and austerity policies are merely exacerbat-
ing the situation.

4 GREEN JOBS # SUCCESSES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR EUROPE photo: ©Porcorex

At the same time, the climate and envi- If we can ensure the strong involvement of
ronmental crisis is becoming increasingly social partners, establish targeted training
serious. Scientists are more certain than and education programmes and imple-
ever that human activity is changing our ment ambitious, stable policies designed
climate and are stressing the dangers of to foster innovation and green invest-
not taking action to stop the rot. Mean- ment, millions of sustainable high-quality
while, economists are warning us that the green jobs can be created, many of them
longer we wait before taking action, the in local small and medium-sized enterpris-
more it will cost us to do so.1 es throughout Europe.

But there is a way out: by greening our This brochure aims to inform you about
economies, we can provide high-quality Europe’s opportunities for creating green
green jobs to fight unemployment and jobs and the efforts of the Greens/EFA
at the same time combat climate change in the European Parliament to boost green
and environmental decline. The EU can employment.
only benefit from such ­efforts. Remaining
a ‘green leader’ would enable the EU to The second part of the brochure describes
generate exports worth an additional €25 some of the successes in creating green
billion per year, cut energy bills by as much jobs across Europe. Green jobs in Europe
as €350 billion per year by 2050,2 reduce are certainly no utopian dream: they are
our dependency on imported energy and already a reality!
resources purchased at volatile prices, and
boost Europe’s security of supply.

1
Nicholas Stern, 2007. The Economics of Climate Change. 2
European Climate Foundation, 2010. Roadmap 2050:
The Stern Review. a practical guide to a prosperous, low-carbon Europe.

5 GREEN JOBS # SUCCESSES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR EUROPE

WHAT sustainable patterns of consumption and
production generates potential to create

ARE
new jobs and transform existing ones into
high-quality green jobs, not only in virtu-
ally all sectors, but also across the entire

GREEN
value chain, from research to production,
distribution and servicing; in new high-
tech sectors such as renewable energies;

JOBS?
in traditional industries like manufacturing
and construction; in agriculture and fisher-
ies; and in service sectors such as catering,
tourism, transport and education.

In our view, green jobs provide decent

work which in turn guarantees adequate
The definition of a ‘green job’ is any pro- social protection, sufficient incomes,
fessional activity that helps to protect the healthy working conditions, respect for
environment and fight climate change by workers’ rights, and individuals’ partici-
saving energy and raw materials, promot- pation in decisions that affect their lives.
ing renewable energies, reducing waste
and pollution or protecting biodiversity
and ecosystems.

Developing sustainable patterns of con-

sumption and production generates po- 3
Developing the job potential of a new sustainable economy,
European Parliament resolution, adopted on 7 September
tential to create new jobs and Developing 2010, Rapporteur: Green MEP Elisabeth Schroedter.

6 GREEN JOBS # SUCCESSES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR EUROPE

 The Greens/EFA in the European Parliament
are working hard to create more green jobs
in Europe. For instance, in 2010, an initiative
by a Green MEP prompted the European
Parliament to adopt a strong resolution call-
ing for the exploitation of the full job poten-
tial of a sustainable economy whilst ensuring
­decent work and a socially just transition.3
The Green demands presented in this bro-
chure are all reflected in that resolution.

NUMBER OF JOBS IN THE EU

Eco-industry
3.4 million

Car manufacturing
2.7 million Chemicals
2.4 million

Basic metals
1.4 million Textiles
1.3 million

Figures for EU-27, 2008. Source: European Commission 2011:

EU environment policy supporting jobs and growth

So-called ‘eco-industries’ include all activities linked to the

production of technologies, products and services that help to
measure, prevent or correct damage caused to water, air or soil
and offer solutions to environmental problems such as waste,
noise and damage to ecosystems. Examples include waste and
water management, air pollution control, recycling, renewable
energy generation and biodiversity protection.

7 GREEN JOBS # SUCCESSES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR EUROPE

photo: ©Roel Burgler / HH
 CREATING
GREEN
JOBS
IN NEW AND
TRADITIONAL
BUSINESSES

photo: ©Sproetniek 8 GREEN JOBS # SUCCESSES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR EUROPE

The literature suggests that investing 1.500.000 JOB DEVELOPMENT 2000 – 2008
in a sustainable economy will create
1.200.000
and retain large numbers of jobs in
both emerging and traditional sec- 900.000
2000

2008
tors. So there is strong evidence to
600.000
suggest that the green transition will,
on balance, have a positive impact on 300.000

employment, reflecting the fact that

0
sustainable economic activities like Waste
management
Wastewater
management
Recycled
materials
Renewable
energy
saving energy or farming organically Figures for EU-27. Source: ECORYS, 2012. The number of jobs dependent on the
environment and improving resource efficiency
are more labour-intensive than the
activities they replace.4
Since 2008, numerous jobs have been created
in the renewable energies sector. In 2009/2010,
The exact number of people in green jobs around 1 million jobs were counted in the sector,
is hard to estimate because people’s defi- which has proven to be crisis resilient. Even
nitions of ‘green job’ differ. Furthermore, between 2010 and 2011, an increase in the num-
there is a dearth of standardised data, es- ber of jobs was recorded, bringing the total to
pecially outside ecological sectors, where 1,186,000.5 If Europe adopts ambitious climate
green jobs are spread throughout Europe policies, the sector’s potential will be even
in companies intent on improving their greater. The European Commission calculated
environmental performance. in 2011 that an additional 3 million jobs could be
created by 2020,6 and 6 million jobs could be
reached by 2050 if the aim of achieving 100%
of energy from renewable sources is adopted.7

4
CE, GHK, IER, 2011. Studies on Sustainability Issues – Green 6
European Commission, 2011. COM (2011) 31 final, Renewable
Jobs; Trade and Labour; Final Report for the European Energy: progressing towards the 2020 target.
Commission, DG Employment. 7
European Renewable Energy Council, 2010. RE-thinking
5
EurObserv’ER, 2012. The State of Renewable Energies in 2050. A 100% Renewable Energy Vision for the European
Europe, 12th EurObserv’ER Report. Union.

9 GREEN JOBS # SUCCESSES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR EUROPE

 Improving resource efficiency could create between 1.4 and 2.8 million jobs in Europe.8
In addition, some 14.6 million jobs depend directly on ecosystems and biodiversity,
­including in forestry, agriculture and fisheries.9 Greening these sectors would increase
the number of people in work. For instance, organic agriculture is estimated to employ
10–20% more people per hectare than conventional farming.10

The example of the steel industry shows how the green transition also helps to retain jobs
in traditional, declining industries. Wind turbines require quality steel, and this demand is
opening up new market niches for the industry and safeguarding jobs.

GREEN JOBS IN EUROPE

2.500.000

2.000.000

1.500.000

1.000.000

500.000

0
Sustainable Waste Renewable Wastewater Water supply Organic Energy Others
transport management energy management farming efficiency
& recycling in buildings

Sources: Figures for EU-27. Sources: Transport, including: Public transport (2008: 1,200,000): UITP, 2008. Public transport: The smart
green solution!; Rail (2004: 900,000): European Commission, 2008. Towards an integrated European railway area. Waste management
& recycling, wastewater management, water supply, others (biodiversity, air, soil and groundwater, noise and vibration) (2008): ECORYS,
2012. The number of Jobs dependent on the Environment and Resource Efficiency improvements. Renewable energies (2011): EurObserv’ER,
2012. State of Renewable Energies, 12th Eurobserver Report. Organic farming (2007): ECORYS, 2012. Energy efficiency in buildings (2009):
ECORYS, 2012.

10 GREEN JOBS # SUCCESSES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR EUROPE

 photo: ©monkeybusinessimages

8
GWS, 2011. Macroeconomic modelling of sustainable development and 9
FEMM, GHK, Ecologic Institute, IEEP, 2011. The Social Dimension of
the links between the economy and the environment, Report for the Biodiversity Policy.
European Commission, DG Environment prepared by Cambridge 10
Sustainlabour, 2013. Green Jobs and related policy frameworks. An
Econometrics, the Institute of Economic Structures Research, the overview of the European Union.
Sustainable Europe Research Institute and the Wuppertal Institute for
Climate, Environment and Energy.

11 GREEN JOBS # SUCCESSES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR EUROPE

 The full potential of green employment
can only be exploited if long-term legal
and financial framework conditions guar-
antee sustainable investment and encour-
age innovation.

The Greens in the European Parliament are

actively pushing for the adoption of such
frameworks. Where energy savings are
concerned, we have successfully garnered
majority support for the attainment of
ambitious, binding targets by 202011 and
2030. EU governments have so far declined
to ratify these targets, but the Greens will
continue to push for their acceptance in a
bid to create jobs on a massive scale. After
all, effective energy efficiency measures
could create or retain 2 million green jobs

EXPLOITING in Europe.12 Many of these jobs concern the

renovation of buildings, one of the sectors

THE FULL JOB worst affected by the economic crisis. More-

over, these jobs would be non-transferable

POTENTIAL and would be created in local small and

medium-sized enterprises.

photo: ©tinabelle

12 GREEN JOBS # SUCCESSES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR EUROPE

The Greens/EFA also managed to impose Only if the policies promoting a green
tougher rules governing EU expenditure transition are stable will green jobs be
on sustainable projects that contribute created and retained in the long run. For
towards job creation. For example, we suc- example, in Spain, which in 2008 was still
cessfully defended mandatory investment a European leader in renewable energies,
by European regions in energy savings and successive central governments have
renewable energies. Poorer Member States drastically cut support programmes in this
in particular will be able to spend more sector since 2009, and it is primarily these
EU funding than before on climate and cuts which have resulted in the number
environmental protection measures. One of jobs in the sector nationwide having
recent report suggests that spending the halved since then.14
EU’s regional development funds on green
investment would generate more jobs than
spending the same amount on the kinds of
activities funded in the past.13 Moreover, the
Greens have successfully safeguarded rules
governing the investment of EU funds in
organic farming and sustainable fisheries.

In addition, with regard to the EU’s new rules 11

Energy Efficiency Directive, report adopted by the European Parliament
on public procurement, the Greens success- on 11 September 2012, Rapporteur: Green MEP Claude Turmes.

fully fought for mandatory consideration of 12

European Commission, 2011. SEC (2011) 779: Impact Assessment
accompanying the Energy Efficiency Plan.
environmental, social and fair trade criteria
13
GHK, 2011: Evaluating the Potential of Green Jobs in the next
and for the possibility of mandatory eco-la- Multi-annual Financial Framework.
bels. All these Green achievements could 14
Data by Spanish renewable energies industry associations UNEF,
significantly boost the creation of green jobs. Protermosolar and AEE. Compiled by the newspaper Cinco Días.

13 GREEN JOBS # SUCCESSES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR EUROPE

 photo: ©eliandric

SAFEGUARDING
COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES
The European Union has to invest in a sus- $Bn
INVESTMENT IN RENEWABLE ENERGIES
2004-2012
tainable economy now if it is to retain its 120

leading position in the development and 100

production of ecological goods. For a long 80

time, Europe has been the world leader in 60

environmental protection and sustainabil- 40

ity and has dominated global competition
20
in renewable energies. But now other
0
economies are catching up. For example, 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

since 2011 Europe’s investment in renewa- Europe United States China

India Brasil
ble energies has declined, whereas China’s
Source: Frankfurt School-UNEP Centre/BNEF, 2013. Global Trends
has steadily increased in recent years. in ­Renewable Energy Investment 2013

14 GREEN JOBS # SUCCESSES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR EUROPE

Europe can only hold on to its global leadership if it invests now - and on a massive scale -
in a sustainable economy, adopts ambitious environmental legislation and prioritises
climate and environmental protection in its budget. Only then will a large proportion of
the globally forecast green jobs be created in Europe.

In this context, the Greens in the European Parliament have put forward a strategy for a
Renaissance of Industry for a Sustainable Europe (RISE) designed to use sustainability to lever
Europe’s global competitiveness and create a wide range of high-quality green jobs.15

Furthermore, the Greens are actively supporting innovative companies which invest in ef-
ficient, sustainable products. For example, most refrigeration and air-conditioning systems
still rely on ‘super greenhouse gases’ which cause exceptionally serious damage to our climate.
Fortunately, environmentally friendly alternatives are available, and more than 400 Europe-
an manufacturers and businesses are already working with them. Based on an initiative by
a Green member, the European Parliament has now introduced phase-outs of these harmful
gases.16 As up to 90% of the systems using these highly damaging gases are imported, these
bans will benefit European manufacturers of sustainable alternatives and boost green jobs.

Reindustrialising Europe to promote competitiveness and

15 
EU Regulation on fluorinated greenhouse gases,
16 

sustainability, European Parliament resolution, adopted on 15 inter-institutional agreement adopted by the European
January 2014, Rapporteur: Green MEP Reinhard Bütikofer. Parliament on 12.3.2014, Rapporteur: Green MEP Bas
Eickhout.

15 GREEN JOBS # SUCCESSES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR EUROPE

 DRIVING
DOWN COSTS,
PROMOTING
DECENT
WORK

photo: ©Mordolff

16 GREEN JOBS # SUCCESSES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR EUROPE

For a long time now, European businesses Energy savings and a more efficient use of
have tried to compete globally by cutting resources help to force down production
labour costs, e.g. wages and social security costs and save factories from closure,
contributions. However, the costs of the whilst at the same time guaranteeing
materials and energy consumed in the workers suitable remuneration. Many
production process are often many times trade unions and work councils have
higher than labour costs. Accordingly, recognised this and are committed to
achieving savings on energy and material promoting energy- and resource-efficient
consumption, which constitutes a core production as a way of easing the pressure
aim of greening businesses, will generate on labour costs.
competitive advantages in the future.
The Greens have been placed in charge of
PRODUCTION COST IN
EUROPEAN MANUFACTURING drafting a raw materials strategy on behalf
Other costs
combined 32–37% of the European Parliament that will focus
on achieving even greater resource efficien-
cy and on re-using and recycling resources
to create jobs, boost competitiveness and
protect the environment.17

Energy and Personnel

Raw materials & supplies 18–20%
combined 38–60%

Source: Greenovate! Europe, 2012. Guide to resource efficiency in

manufacturing

On average, labour only accounts for 18–20% of overall produc-

tion costs in European manufacturing companies, whereas raw An effective raw materials strategy for Europe, European
17 

materials and supplies account for 30–45% and energy costs Parliament resolution, adopted on 13 September 2011,
for 8–15%. Rapporteur: Green MEP Reinhard Bütikofer.

17 GREEN JOBS # SUCCESSES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR EUROPE

 photo: ©FireAtDusk

A SOCIALLY
JUST GREEN
TRANSITION
18 GREEN JOBS # SUCCESSES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR EUROPE
For us as Greens it is crucial that green Furthermore, environmental change de-
jobs promote decent work with adequate mands flexibility. Workers need to be sure
social protection, sufficient incomes, that they are safeguarded by effective
healthy working conditions, respect for workforce representation and social secu-
workers’ rights and individuals’ participa- rity guaranteed by the respective Member
tion in decisions that affect their lives. State’s system.

Ensuring decent working conditions in The Greens/EFA in the European Parliament

new sectors such as renewable energies regularly meet trade union and workforce
can prove challenging. A study by the representatives to discuss how to ensure
European Metalworkers Federation (EMF) decent work in green sectors and a socially
on the wind energy sector in Germany, just transformation in which workers play
France, Spain, the Netherlands and Den- a full partnership role and are not unfairly
mark concludes that competitive pres- disadvantaged by changes. Moreover, the
sures, inadequate worker representation, Greens are pressing hard for strong social
temporary employment contracts and skill security systems in Europe, especially dur-
shortages are all detrimental to working ing the green transition and for workers
conditions.18 Evidence is mixed, though, between jobs.
for research conducted in Germany and
Spain has found the quality of jobs in the
renewable energy sector to be good,19
whereas in the waste management indus- 18
European Metalworkers’ Federation (EMF) and PCG: The
try unhealthy working conditions and low European Wind Energy Sector: Green and Social? New
Pathways for Workers Representation in the European Wind
pay are problematic. Sector.

19
International Labour Organisation, 2013: Sustainable
development, decent work and green Jobs. International
Labour Conference, 102nd Session.

19 GREEN JOBS # SUCCESSES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR EUROPE

 THE
RIGHT
TO
TRAINING
AND
EDUCATION

photo: ©lisafx

20 GREEN JOBS # SUCCESSES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR EUROPE

The Greens in the European Parliament are calling for a broad
education and training initiative for green jobs across all skill lev-
els. The green transition must offer opportunities for everyone:
young and old, male and female, highly or lesser skilled, jobless
and employed. All workers are entitled to training and lifelong
learning.

Vocational training and education programmes must ensure that

a worker who has spent, say, 30 years working in coal mining can
acquire the skills required to land a green job. This is absolute-
ly essential if the job potential of the green transition is to be
fully exploited. Employers, workers and governments are jointly
responsible for devising coherent education and training strate-
gies. A first step will entail identifying new and future skill needs
and pinpointing workers’ skill gaps.

The Greens in the European Parliament succeeded in ensuring that

employment and training measures funded with EU money have to
take account of the shift to a green economy. We are also fighting
hard to promote workers’ fundamental right to training and to
expand democratisation in the workplace. After all, innovation and
creativity occur not only in research facilities, but also on the shop
floor when workers propose new ideas.

21 GREEN JOBS # SUCCESSES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR EUROPE

WOMEN IN
GREEN JOBS
The potential for creating green jobs is particularly high in certain sectors, like
construction, the production of solar and wind power facilities and research into
energy- and resource-saving technologies. These sectors are all traditionally
male-dominated in EU Member States and the prejudices of employers and col-
leagues are often so deeply entrenched that many women still face the threat
of discrimination. At the same time, young women today persist in only rarely
choosing professions involving mathematics, computer science, the natural
sciences and technology.

22 GREEN JOBS # SUCCESSES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR EUROPE

 photo: ©shotbydave

The Greens/EFA in the European Parliament are strongly advocating ­female par-
ticipation in the green economy. Take, for example, two initiatives put forward by
Green MEPs: a European Parliament resolution on gender aspects of the economic
and financial crisis20 and a call for an EU initiative promoting gender balance in
male-dominated sectors.21 The Greens also succeeded in ensuring mandatory con-
sideration of gender equality when EU money is spent on regional development and
social projects, because studies we commissioned on this topic have shown that
gender parity is still far from a reality.

20  
The impact of the economic crisis on gender equality Developing the job potential of a new sustainable
21 

and women’s rights, European Parliament resolution, economy, European Parliament resolution, adopted on
adopted on 17 June 2010, Rapporteur: Green MEP Raül 7 September 2011, Rapporteur: Green MEP Elisabeth
Romeva. Schroedter.

23 GREEN JOBS # SUCCESSES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR EUROPE

 photo: ©Bart Muhl / HH

24 GREEN JOBS # SUCCESSES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR EUROPE

SUCCESS STORIES:
GREEN JOB CREATION
IN EUROPE

GREEN JOBS ARE NO

UTOPIAN DREAM.
PROGRESS TOWARDS
MORE SUSTAINABILITY
HAS BEEN MADE IN
MANY PLACES ACROSS
EUROPE, CREATING JOBS.

25 GREEN JOBS # SUCCESSES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR EUROPE

THE VILLAGE OF
ANAVRA, GREECE:
SUSTAINABLE ACTIVITIES:
Sustainable local development creates full
LOCAL employment and prosperity

DEVELOPMENT WHERE ARE JOBS BEING CREATED?

FOR JOBS AND Organic & livestock farming, local
production of renewable energy,
PROSPERITY eco-tourism

WHO?
The local community and authorities,
farmers, local businesses, the local technical
college

SUCCESSES:
Zero unemployment, a larger population,
additional village income totalling €60,000
a year, new public infrastructure, a better
quality of life

Website:
www.anavra-zo.gr/en

26 GREEN JOBS # SUCCESSES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR EUROPE

 ringing in major changes in a number of
sectors.

Traditional livestock farmers turned to-

wards integrated, organic farming, estab-
lishing three farms with a total of 25,000
animals, including sheep, goats, cows and
pigs, all grazing freely in the mountains. The
villagers also set up a public abattoir with a
photo: ©Stamatis Lagkanis certified organic section and meeting the
relevant international quality standards.
The remote mountain village of Anavra in
southeastern Greece has very successfully At the same time, in an effort to produce
harnessed the job potential of a green its own energy, Anavra built a wind farm
transition. Between 2000 and 2010, the comprising 20 turbines generating a com-
municipality saw its unemployment rate bined total of up to 17.5 megawatts, capa-
drop to zero, its population almost dou- ble of powering 12,500-13,000 homes.
ble from 300 to 550 inhabitants, and its Two more wind farms are currently under
citizens’ quality of life improve. Anavra’s construction, consisting of 23 turbines
green transition even attracted worldwide with a combined output of 20 megawatts.
attention, transforming the previously These projects are expected to create 20
poor, isolated village into a model of sus- permanent and 100 temporary jobs. Any
tainable local development. The village’s surplus electricity is sold, and the first
transformation began in the mid-1990s, wind farm alone has generated additional »

27 GREEN JOBS # SUCCESSES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR EUROPE

income for the village of about €60,000 are zero, and its youngsters are no longer
a year. In 2010, the village also teamed moving away.
up with a local technical college to start
planning the construction of a small hy- The very positive socio-economic situation
droelectric plant and a biomass distance of Anavra today is even more stunning
heating system. bearing in mind how badly Greece has
been affected by the economic crisis. In
Finally, the village also developed the 240- 2012, per capita GDP in Greece was only
acre Goura Environmental and Cultural 75% of the average for the EU as a whole,
Park, which has bolstered eco-tourism, at- and in 2013 unemployment there ran at
tracting more than 8,500 visitors between 27.8%, 160% higher than the EU average.
2000 and 2012.
Anavra’s success can largely be attributed
Anavra’s sustainable development plan to strong individual leadership and support
has not only created jobs and boosted provided by EU funds.
private incomes, but also given the local
community the means to develop public According to official estimates, if Greece
infrastructure and hence improve its manages to nudge its economy onto a
inhabitants’ quality of life. For instance, sustainable path, it could create 210,000
the villagers have built squares and water green jobs, 27,000 of which would be
pumps, a rural medical centre, education permanent.
and sport facilities, a retirement home and
facilities for the homeless. The village’s
rates of unemployment and criminality

28 GREEN JOBS # SUCCESSES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR EUROPE

 photo: ©Stamatis Lagkanis

29 GREEN JOBS # SUCCESSES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR EUROPE

BREMERHAVEN,
GERMANY:
JOBS FOR ACTIVITIES:
Creating new jobs for workers from declining
WORKERS FROM industries

DECLINING WHERE ARE JOBS BEING CREATED?

INDUSTRIES Wind energy, construction, the engineering

and steel sectors and local small and
medium-sized enterprises

WHO?
Local and regional authorities, researchers,
workers and local businesses

SUCCESSES:
1,000 wind energy jobs in Bremerhaven,
4,050 renewable energies jobs in the federal
state of Bremen

Website:
http://offshore-windport.de/en/home.html

30 GREEN JOBS # SUCCESSES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR EUROPE

photo: ©Oliver Hoffmann

Under Green leadership, the transition

towards a green economy became a pri-
ority for the 1998-2005 Social Democrat-
ic-Green coalition federal government,
which launched the country’s energy
revolution. According to official figures,
1.93 million people were working in the en-
vironmental protection sector in Germany
by 2008, 37% more than 10 years before.

Bremerhaven, a coastal city with a popu-

lation of 120,000 in the state of Bremen,
exploited the greening trend to restruc-
ture its economy, which had traditionally
focussed on shipbuilding. In the late 1980s
a deep economic downturn hit the city fol-
lowing a sharp falloff in demand and ever
stiffer competition from foreign-based
companies. This led to extensive job losses
(with 3,500 shed through shipyard clo-
sures alone) and saw the city’s population
drop by almost 30%, while unemployment
soared to 21% in 1997. In 2001 Bremer-
haven City Council decided to try and
reverse this trend, simultaneously building »

31 GREEN JOBS # SUCCESSES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR EUROPE

on its main assets - a skilled workforce, 4,050 people. Local small and medi-
wide-ranging technological know-how in um-sized enterprises in the construction,
the maritime sector and in manufacturing engineering and steel sectors and also
port facilities - by promoting wind energy, other companies manufacturing wind
focussing on offshore wind farms in par- turbine components have benefited,
ticular. too. Sustained efforts will continue to be
required to bring down the high unem-
Numerous steps were taken, including in- ployment rate (the level in August 2013
vestment in infrastructure, research in the was 11.1%), but the successful development
wind sector and the intensified provision of the wind energy sector has undoubtedly
of appropriate vocational training. The helped to ease the region’s problems.
Wind Energy Agency (WAB), a network
of 300 companies and institutes working The German Green Party, the Alliance ‘90/
in wind energy (production, installation The Greens, which has been part of Bre-
and research) was set up in 2002 to serve men’s ­regional government since 2007,
as a nationwide hub for the offshore wind played a key role in pressing for the devel-
industry. opment of the region’s r­ enewables sector.

These efforts proved fruitful, and today

Bremerhaven has 1,000 workers em-
ployed in the wind sector (the total for the
whole of Germany in 2012 was 117,900).
Meanwhile, in the state of Bremen the
renewables sector employs no fewer than

32 GREEN JOBS # SUCCESSES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR EUROPE

 photo: ©monkeybusinessimages

33 GREEN JOBS # SUCCESSES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR EUROPE

BRUSSELS AND
WALLONIA, BELGIUM:
CREATING VIABLE ACTIVITIES:
Promote the green transition of regional
ECONOMIES AND economies, create stable local jobs and
maintain the long-term viability of economic
LOCAL JOBS sectors

WHERE ARE JOBS BEING CREATED?

Small and medium-sized enterprises in the
construction sector, companies and services
in the agri-food sector

WHO?
Local and regional authorities, business
associations, public interest organisations,
trade unions, educational service providers

SUCCESSES:
A comprehensive set of measures launched
to address the need for energy savings in
buildings: training schemes, exchanges of
good practice, funding for individuals and
small and medium-sized enterprises, research
programmes, technical support

Website:
http://www.aee-rbc.be/
http://nollet.wallonie.be/la-premiere-alliance-
emploi-environnement-est-scellee-0

34 GREEN JOBS # SUCCESSES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR EUROPE

 photo: ©Reporters/J.Thijs

Since 2009, Green ministers in two of of economic sectors can create new jobs
Belgium’s three Regions, Brussels and and maintain these sectors’ long-term
Wallonia, have been pushing hard for viability. Special emphasis is placed on en-
the development of so-called ‘Employ- ergy efficiency in buildings. Almost 50%
ment-Environment’ Alliances in a bid of buildings in Wallonia were constructed
to create green jobs. In Wallonia, these before 1945, are very poorly insulated and
Alliances received a total budget of cause very high energy consumption. Any
€879,000,000 under the ‘Marshall Plan jobs created as a result of the associated
2.Green’, a framework programme adopt- measures will necessarily be local and
ed by the Walloon government to main- therefore cannot be lost through ‘delo-
stream sustainable development across calisation’.
all its policies and reinvigorate Wallonia’s
economy. The initiative has been developed in close
cooperation with all stakeholders of the
The idea behind the Alliances is that pol- building sector with a view to transforming
icies accompanying the green transition it into a sustainable sector. The partners »

35 GREEN JOBS # SUCCESSES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR EUROPE

are promoting low-energy consumption atives implemented by Green ministers in
and environmental improvements to Brussels’ regional government is promot-
existing buildings, defining targets for re- ing sustainable canteens. So far 95 can-
newable energy sources, identifying new teens serving a combined total of 80,000
skills and launching a renovation plan for meals a day in schools, private companies
the stock of public housing. and public administrations have taken
part. The public support provided includes
This means stimulating the demand for a help desk for canteen managers, vari-
renovation and eco-construction. Con- ous self-assessment sustainability tools,
crete measures include training schemes, training activities, sustainability audits and
exchanges of good practice, the funding funding.
of schemes for individuals as well as small
and medium-sized enterprises, research
programmes and the provision of techni-
In the Brussels-Capital Region of Belgium, con-
cal support. So far, 2,000 households and
sumer demand for sustainable food has risen
5,500 public buildings have taken part in
steadily in recent years. For example, between
the initiative, which was only launched in
2009 and 2010 demand for organic food in-
2011 in Brussels and 2012 in Wallonia. First
creased by 20%. In Brussels, this sector, which
figures on the number of jobs created are
currently employs 2,500 people, has the potential
expected to be available soon.
to create an additional 3,633 jobs in urban agri-
culture alone, in domains including farming, food
Moreover, the Alliances in Brussels and
distribution, waste management, information and
Wallonia are tackling other domains, such
communication, advising and consulting.
as water, waste and food. One of the initi-

36 GREEN JOBS # SUCCESSES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR EUROPE

 photo: ©Reporters/J.Thys

37 GREEN JOBS # SUCCESSES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR EUROPE

BURGENLAND,
AUSTRIA:
LOCAL, GREEN ACTIVITIES:
Boost local employment and growth, reduce
ENERGY AND dependency on fossil energy

NEW JOBS WHERE ARE JOBS BEING CREATED?

Local renewable energy production,
sustainable agriculture and forestry, related
research and development

WHO?
Strong involvement of citizens, researchers,
local small and medium-sized enterprises and
farmers

SUCCESSES:
5,560 jobs created state-wide; 1,000 jobs
created in Güssing, with 50 new businesses
attracted to the town; Burgenland has
become Europe’s first energy-independent
region for electricity

Website:
www.guessing.co.at

38 GREEN JOBS # SUCCESSES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR EUROPE

photo: ©arturbo

In 1997, the Austrian state of Burgenland cover its electricity needs with renewable
set itself the objective of becoming ener- local energy sources, including wind, solar
gy-independent by 2050 by generating power and biomass. This strategy created
electricity from locally available renewa- 5,560 new jobs in this state of 284,000
ble sources. inhabitants and raised its per capita GDP
from 71% (1995) to 81% (2008) of the EU-
Its aims in so doing were to boost local 15 average.
employment and stimulate economic
development whilst reducing fossil ener- Among the 250 renewable projects initi-
gy dependency and cutting the region’s ated throughout Burgenland, the town of
energy expenditure. In 2013, Burgenland Güssing focused on biomass production,
duly became the first region in Europe to using local resources from forestry and »

39 GREEN JOBS # SUCCESSES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR EUROPE

agriculture and building a number of dis- ness-raising designed to inform citizens
trict heating plants as well as a biomass how they can contribute to Burgenland’s
power plant. The implementation of these energy independence and how they
projects attracted biomass experts to benefit from Burgenland’s sustainable
­
Burgenland, prompting the establishment eco-friendly approach.
of the European Centre for Renewable
Energy and a specialised bioenergy re- Continued access to funding is crucial if
search centre called ‘The Technikum’. This Burgenland is to continue its green tran-
research pool allowed Güssing to develop sition. The Austrian Greens have actively
all the existing technologies capable of lobbied for more resources and an even
converting biomass into energy. more efficient use of public investment,
to enable the region to continue pursuing
As a result, over 1,000 new jobs were cre- its innovative, successful Green agenda.
ated in Güssing, which has a total popula-
tion of 26,507, and over the last 20 years
more than 50 new businesses have either
been set up there or relocated to the
town. This has made Güssing something of
a model for other regions intent on taking
active climate protection measures.

A great deal of time, effort and extensive

resources have been spent on communi-
cation campaigns and public aware-

40 GREEN JOBS # SUCCESSES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR EUROPE

 photo: ©Andrey Popov

41 GREEN JOBS # SUCCESSES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR EUROPE

LE MANS AND THE
PAYS DE LA LOIRE
REGION, FRANCE:
JOBS FOR ACTIVITIES:
Create new jobs for workers from declining
WORKERS FROM industries and provide training

DECLINING WHERE ARE JOBS BEING CREATED?

INDUSTRIES The wind energy and construction sectors,

local firms, small and medium-sized
enterprises

WHO?
The young and unemployed, workers
employed in the automotive, aeronautical
and electronics industries

SUCCESSES:
90% of trained workers found new jobs;
6,240 workers are now employed in the
regional wind sector; mitigated impact of
the recession

Website:
www.paysdelaloire.fr/no_cache/region-actu/actu-
detaillee/n/un-guide-pour-se-former-aux-metiers-verts/

42 GREEN JOBS # SUCCESSES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR EUROPE

photo: ©Jacek_Sopotnicki

A training programme in Le Mans, a city in found new jobs in the wind sector, whilst
the Pays de la Loire region in north-west- another 5% are continuing their training.
ern France, helps unemployed youth and Le Mans is the only place in France offer-
workers employed in declining industries, ing training for workers destined for the
mainly the automotive industry and its offshore wind industry.
supply chain, to transfer their skills to new
jobs in the wind energy sector. Indeed, The training programme is part of a
an impressive 95% of car production and broader regional strategy conducted by
maintenance skills can be transferred to the Pays de la Loire Regional Council in
the wind sector, and no fewer than 90% of a bid to develop a new locally based wind
the 150 workers trained since 2009 have energy sector and thereby create jobs and »

43 GREEN JOBS # SUCCESSES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR EUROPE

business opportunities. Its goal in the on- since 2009, and in 2013 the Pays de la
shore sector is to increase wind energy’s Loire ranked sixth amongst French regions
generating capacity from its present level in terms of its installed wind capacity. This
of 480 to 1,750 megawatts by 2020. In activity in the wind sector has also miti-
parallel, great efforts are being made to gated the recession’s economic impact on
develop an offshore wind energy sector the region, whose level of unemployment
by stimulating expertise in engineering, remains one of the lowest in France (9.1%
research, training, the manufacture and in 2013).
assembly of wind turbine components,
logistics, installation and maintenance. The French Green party, Europe Ecolo-
The region is committed to making the gy–The Greens (EELV), has been a driving
best possible use of its pool of skilled force in the green transformation under
workers and drawing on their extensive way in the Pays de la Loire region. For in-
experience in the automotive, aeronauti- stance, by chairing the Regional Council’s
cal and electronics industries as well as in Committee on Employment and Training
the regional maritime sector. it has ensured the development of rele-
vant vocational training courses in green
As a result, the wind energy sector in sectors.
the Pays de la Loire region now employs
6,240 workers and comprises 170 local
firms, including small and medium-sized
enterprises, e.g. in the construction
sector. Furthermore, the region’s wind
energy capacity has increased by 166%

44 GREEN JOBS # SUCCESSES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR EUROPE

photo: ©lisafx

45 GREEN JOBS # SUCCESSES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR EUROPE

THE REGION OF
NAVARRA, SPAIN:
CREATING JOBS ACTIVITIES:
Establish a regional renewable energy sector
AND A RESILIENT to lower dependence on expensive fossil fuel

ECONOMY
imports, build a resilient economy and create
stable local jobs

WHERE ARE JOBS BEING CREATED?

In the renewable energy sector and
associated small and medium-sized
enterprises

WHO?
Trade unions, civil society, researchers, local
authorities, local businesses, workers, the
young and unemployed

SUCCESSES:
3,800 jobs created, 81% of electricity
consumed now stems from renewable
energies sources; the regional economy’s
resilience to the crisis exceeds the Spanish
average

Website:
www.cenifer.com/

46 GREEN JOBS # SUCCESSES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR EUROPE

photo: ©inakiantonana

In the mid-1980s, 86% of energy in sectors, especially the automotive indus-

Navarra was not locally produced. But
­ try, which at the time was threatening to
today a region that used to be highly move its production out of Spain.
dependent on imported fossil fuels with
wildly fluctuating prices has instead Determined to become less dependent
become a leader in the generation of on expensive fossil fuel imports, build a
renewable energies. more diverse, resilient economy and cre-
ate stable local jobs, the regional govern-
In 1994, when the first Renewable Energy ment teamed up with the trade unions,
Plan was adopted, the region was char- civil society and local authorities and
acterised by high incomes and low un- business associations to launch a strate-
employment. However, its economy was gy designed to shift the region’s energy
highly dependent on just a few industrial sources from fossil fuels to renewables. »

47 GREEN JOBS # SUCCESSES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR EUROPE

To address the shortage of skilled work- renewable energy systems, and research
ers, a Renewable Energy Training Centre and development facilities. Between
was set up for the young and unemployed them, these companies generate annual
as well as for workers employed in the new revenue totalling €3.5 billion per year, di-
sector. At the same time, a national centre rectly employ 3,800 people (2.6 times the
for applied research on solar, wind and total in 2002) and account for 5% of the
biomass energies was established. Today, region’s GDP (which is more than double
this facility is internationally recognised, the average rate of the sector throughout
has 200 researchers working there, im- Spain, related to national GDP (2.4%)).
plements projects on five continents and
uses the very latest, cutting-edge tech- Navarra-based companies manufacture
nologies. 17% of all wind turbines sold worldwide.
In terms of renewable energy production,
Even though a lot still needs to be done 81% of the electricity consumed in the
before the use of fossil fuels can be region now stems from renewable sources
phased out altogether, impressive results (compared to 42.4% for Spain as a whole
have already been achieved: and 20.6% for Europe according to 2011
figures). The region has proven unusually
For instance, the renewable energy sector resilient to the impact of the economic
in Navarra today comprises more than crisis, and since 2008 Navarra’s GDP has
100 companies, including factories man- dropped by 5.1% less than national GDP
ufacturing wind turbines and solar photo- over the same period.
voltaic components, operators providing
operational and maintenance services for

48 GREEN JOBS # SUCCESSES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR EUROPE

Since 2009, Spain’s central governments have drastically cut support
programmes for renewable energies, and it is primarily these cuts
which have resulted in the number of jobs in the sector nationwide
having halved since then. For example, in July 2013 the government
adopted an energy reform that champions fossil fuels and maintains
the oligopolistic power of Spain’s five major power companies. So far,
Navarra’s energy sector has managed to buck this trend.

photo: ©Ries van Wendel de Joode / HH

49 GREEN JOBS # SUCCESSES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR EUROPE

LONDON,
UNITED KINGDOM:
LOCAL ACTIVITIES:
Local communities are taking the
COMMUNITIES initiative for greener and more inclusive
neighbourhoods, training jobseekers in green
FOR GREEN skills and creating green jobs

SKILLS AND JOBS WHERE ARE JOBS BEING CREATED?

Rainwater harvesting, insulating buildings,
advising on access to grant support,
installing photovoltaic solar systems,
community gardening, hairdressing,
recycling, waste management

WHO?
Local communities, employers, jobseekers,
trade unions, education providers, local
authorities

SUCCESSES:
More than 500 training opportunities
created, a 100 unemployed people trained
and offered jobs, agreements reached with
large employers on work placements and
employment

Website:
www.unionlearn.org.uk/our-work-and-projects/skills-
investment/skills-green-economy/green-skills-partnership

50 GREEN JOBS # SUCCESSES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR EUROPE

 The green sector in the UK is increasingly
seen as an important source of growth
for the country. In 2011/12, it directly em-
ployed nearly a million full-time staff. The
sector is expected to create nearly half a
million new jobs by 2020.

In 2011, employers, trade unions, edu-

cation providers, local authorities and
community representatives launched the
London Green Skills Partnership to exploit
the green job potential. The Partnership
is a bottom-up initiative with three main
objectives: to create local networks to
work together; to provide training, skills
and work experience for locals, including
the unemployed; and to transform com-
munities into greener, safer, cleaner and
more inclusive places.

Jobseekers are trained in both basic and

specific environmental skills needed
to transform employment into green
jobs in domains as diverse as retrofitting »

photo: ©hmproudlove

51 GREEN JOBS # SUCCESSES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR EUROPE

buildings, hairdressing and waste manage- • The provision of training and offers of
ment. Trained individuals also act as ‘green work experience in the horticulture,
ambassadors’ in their neighbourhoods waste management and retrofit sectors
and workplaces, sharing their green skills for 100 unemployed people
with colleagues and neighbours to foster
additional change. • The establishment of a pioneering work-
ers’ cooperative, the Lewisham New
Green jobs are being created in rainwater Leaf Collective, to integrate renewable
harvesting, building insulation, giving ad- energy generation into the sustainable
vice on how to access grant support, install- retrofitting of social housing
ing photovoltaic solar systems, community
gardening (grass-cutting, woodland man- • The conclusion of agreements with some
agement, composting), using eco-friendly of the country’s largest construction
products in hairdressing, recycling, waste companies and service providers on
management and offering advice on how to work placements, guaranteed interviews,
cut waste. apprenticeships and employment op-
portunities for workers and unemployed
The Partnership has evolved since its initial people in South London in domains
phase in East and South London, spreading associated with energy savings and sus-
across the whole city and now also to oth- tainability.
er parts of the UK. Its successes include:

• The creation of more than 500 training

opportunities through all initiatives

52 GREEN JOBS # SUCCESSES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR EUROPE

 photo: ©Jani Bryson

53 GREEN JOBS # SUCCESSES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR EUROPE

THE CZECH
REPUBLIC:
NEW JOBS ACTIVITIES:
Creating stable local jobs and saving energy
AND ENERGY in homes

SAVINGS WHERE ARE JOBS BEING CREATED?

Small and medium-sized companies in the
construction sector

WHO?
Individual households, which benefit from
subsidies and energy savings

SUCCESSES:
Around 16,000 jobs created or maintained,
plus the potential to create 70,000
long-term jobs by 2020; savings of up to
€1.5 billion in energy costs per year for
households; lower CO2 emissions

Website:
www.zelenausporam.cz/sekce/582/about-
the-green-savings-programme/

54 GREEN JOBS # SUCCESSES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR EUROPE

photo: ©ETIENJones

In 2009, a Green minister launched the national Green Savings pro-

gramme (2009-2012) which promoted energy savings in private homes
by awarding participating households a direct subsidy as high as 30-75%
of the costs incurred.

The programme supported improvements to insulation (e.g. by replacing

old doors and windows), the replacement of environmentally unfriendly
boilers, the purchase and installation of solar energy systems and the
construction of new energy-efficient homes. The subsidies were fi-
nanced by public revenue generated through the sale of CO2 emission
credits under the European Emissions Trading System (ETS), which
implements the Kyoto Protocol in Europe. Accordingly, the programme »

55 GREEN JOBS # SUCCESSES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR EUROPE

did not additionally burden taxpayers or the
public sector budget.

Between 2009 and 2012 over 250,000

households throughout the Czech Republic
benefited from the programme to the tune
of €967 million. The estimated reduction in
CO2 emissions through the programme at
the end of 2012 was 864,000 tonnes per
year, which is equivalent to the total emis-
sions of a Czech city of 69,000 inhabitants.

Around 16,000 jobs were created or main-

tained, mainly in small and medium-sized
enterprises active in the construction sector.
Overall, the government subsidies awarded
under the programme will save households
up to €1.5 billion a year in heating costs alone.

It is estimated that continuation of the pro-

gramme (from 2013 to 2020) will create or
conserve no fewer than 70,000 jobs.

56 GREEN JOBS # SUCCESSES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR EUROPE

 photo: ©Heatherfaye

57 GREEN JOBS # SUCCESSES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR EUROPE

COLOPHON
This publication has been produced by the Green New
Deal Working Group of the Greens/EFA in the European
Parliament. Its first part is based on previous work by
Green MEP Elisabeth Schroedter, in particular the brochure
“Green Jobs. The opportunity for the European labour
market”, published in 2011, and the European Parliament
resolution “Developing the job potential of a new sustainable
economy”, adopted on 7 September 2010, Rapporteur:
Elisabeth Schroedter.

Research: Ana Belen Sanchez and Daniza Hanz,

Sustainlabour, www.sustainlabour.org
Design: Wicked Fruit, www.wickedfruit.com

This publication has been made possible thanks to

contributions by our partners and colleagues in national
Green parties, representatives and members of the various
green job creation initiatives at national, regional and local
levels which are presented in this brochure, MEP offices
involved in the Greens/EFA Green New Deal and Climate
Core Working Groups and policy advisors and staff of the
Greens/EFA group.

Project coordination: Stefanie Hundsdorfer,

Green New Deal Advisor, Greens/EFA Group.
Assistance: Lonneke Bentinck

Find out more about the Green New Deal at

www.greennewdeal.eu

Hard copies can be ordered from:

The Greens/EFA in the European Parliament
Office PHS 04 C 083
Rue Wiertz 60 - 1047 Brussels – Belgium
Email: stefanie.hundsdorfer@europarl.europa.eu

April 2014

This publication has been printed on 100% recycled

paper stock using bio vegetable-based inks.

photo cover: © Gene Chutka

 photo: ©Daisy-Daisy

59 GREEN JOBS # SUCCESSES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR EUROPE

The Greens/EFA
in the European Parliament

60 Rue Wiertz
1047 Brussels

Phone: +32–2–2843045
www.greens-efa.eu

This publication and full references

WWW are available online at:
www.greennewdeal.eu/greenjobs