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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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    Cited by:

    1. Dominique MÉDA, 2019. "Three scenarios for the future of work," International Labour Review, International Labour Organization, vol. 158(4), pages 627-652, December.
    2. 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.
    3. 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).
    4. Raimi, Daniel & Greenspon, Jacob, 2022. "Matching Geographies and Job Skills in the Energy Transition," RFF Working Paper Series 22-25, Resources for the Future.
    5. 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).
    6. 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).
    7. 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.
    8. 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.
    9. Nicholas Stern & Anna Valero, 2021. "Innovation, growth and the transition to net-zero emissions," CEP Discussion Papers dp1773, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
    10. Stern, Nicholas & Valero, Anna, 2021. "Innovation, growth and the transition to net-zero emissions," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 50(9).
    11. Nicholas Stern & Anna Valero, 2021. "Innovation, growth and the transition to net-zero emissions," POID Working Papers 008, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
    12. 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).
    13. 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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