A labour perspective on the creation of work in labour intensive industries in South Africa's transition to a greener economy

Transcription

1 A labour perspective on the creation of work in labour intensive industries in South Africa's transition to a greener economy Dialogue on Ecological Infrastructure 8 November 2012

2 Shifting to a Green Economy We must shift in the way we grow our economy from very unsustainable approaches to one which is less reliant on fossil fuels and which is job-intensive and so Workers and the poor should not be disadvantaged and disproportionally affected But we also have to take action to reduce emissions An opportunity for deeper transformation including redistribution of power and resources But this must be done in the context of a Just Transition

3 What is a just Transition? Investment in environmentally friendly activities that create decent jobs, that meet standards of health and safety, that promote gender equality, Fossil fuel use is completely integrated into how our economy works and how we conduct our lives. Shifting our dependence on fossils fuels will be particularly challenging Comprehensive social protection in order to protect the most vulnerable Conduct research into the impact of climate change on employment and livelihoods in order to better inform social policies Skills development and retraining of workers to ensure that they can be part of the new low-carbon development model

4 What interventions will be required: Capture methane gas from landfills, sewage works and mines, and convert it into useable energy Change our methods of production, especially in relation to iron, steel and cement Reduce, shift and improve our transport use and technology, including develop good low-carbon public transport systems Build and adapt homes and commercial buildings in ways that they use less energy Move away from current practices of industrial agriculture: reduce the use of oil-based fertilisers, produce more locally to reduce distances that we transport food (food miles), and expand organic agriculture Protect and restore our natural vegetation, soil and biodiversity, which store and absorb carbon

5 A focus on Energy At least a quarter of South African households are energy poor and these are poor, largely black households Expanding household access to electricity must be complimented with reducing levels of household consumption through the construction and retro-fitting of energy efficient homes This would mean significantly higher cost for energy-intensive users at a household and industry level

6 Review and scale-up targets Ambitious targets are required: 50% by 2030 Reliance on the private sector to develop renewable energy supply is problematic: Significantly greater role of the State in the sector is critical Renewable Energy Enabling environment as well as adequate incentives in supporting growth of the sector No Nuclear Energy: To Expensive, Capital Intensive and Dangerous Renewable energy has potential and technology learning curves that could contribute to significant cost reductions and more jobs

7 A focus on Water... Increasing water stress in SA will require investment in improved infrastructure to avoid leaking municipal and domestic pipes We need to value and safeguard the natural sources of water our aquifers, groundwater, water catchment areas, rivers and wetlands Require zero tolerance to polluters significant penalties

8 ... Rainwater harvesting can be maximised through local and natural systems Development of water collecting technologies should be supported for a broader range of water harvesting at local level and can potentially produce tens of thousands of new jobs

9 Jobs and a low carbon economy Research shows that many jobs that can be created in a low carbon economy are in most cases labour-intensive The creation of climate jobs on a mass scale could result in savings for government Climate jobs are affordable, and need not require extra government spending Greater and more well defined role of the Public Sector in job creation: People Centred Development

10 Rain Water Harvesting Ecological Repairs Manufacturing (related to renewable Energy) Housing(retrofitting) Renewable energy Tourism Waste Transport

11 Conclusion Support a radical shift towards a greener economy A just transition is critical and important to avoid increasing unemployment, poverty and inequalities Labour intensive growth under a decent work programme

12 THANKS