As everyone is aware, the skyrocketing prices resulting from the energy crisis have affected people all over the world, necessitating an accelerated adoption of renewable energy. As a result, the creation of new jobs in the field of renewable energy is on the rise. The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) estimates that the number of jobs in the industry increased by 700,000 globally between 2020 and 2021, reaching 12.7 million in total. How has this number continued to grow in the renewable energy sector?
THE GROWING NUMBERS
According to the IRENA research, an additional 257 GW of renewable power capacity was installed globally in 2021. Currently, there are 4.3 million jobs in solar photovoltaic (PV), 2.4 million in hydropower, 2.4 million in biofuels, and 1.3 million in wind power. The remaining job growth comes from various industries, including ocean energy, geothermal energy, and heat pumps. Presently, China leads as the nation with the highest number of renewable jobs worldwide, followed by the EU and Brazil, each contributing 10%, and the USA and India, both at 7%.
WHAT PPPs CAN DO
These employment trends are shaped by a wide range of factors, such as costs, investments, new and cumulative capacity, and a broad array of policy initiatives to support the deployment of renewable energy, create sustainable supply chains, and develop a competent workforce. Consequently, cooperation between the public and commercial sectors is essential to make the future of employment more equitable and sustainable. The green sectors, along with the jobs they sustain, necessitate substantial and targeted investments from policymakers and business leaders. Establishing the necessary skills for future-ready job roles involves actions like supporting governmental and private re-employment policies, providing job-transition assistance, implementing training, upskilling, and reskilling initiative
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To support green industries and the employment they generate, which serve as tools for addressing the energy issue, cooperation between the public and private sectors is necessary.
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