Resident Coordinator's Remarks at Green Jobs for the future – Skills development, green jobs and technologies to accelerate the circular economy

I am pleased to welcome you all to this important workshop, which focuses on greening economies and the employment landscapes.

The record heatwaves recently across the planet are a stark reminder that we have no time to waste in speeding up a green and just transition.

The Secretary-General has warned us that the Paris commitments are going up in smoke, making it imperative for all of us to act.  

Accelerating green job creation is an integral part of that.

I would like to thank its organizers and participants for creating the platform to flesh out how creation of green jobs can be accelerated to yield transformative results in Thailand and the region.   

This is crucial as 40% of all jobs worldwide depend on ecosystem services with climate change alone leading to the loss of 80 million full-time jobs.  

Across Asia and the Pacific, the region’s 600 million youth will be greatly impacted by an employment landscape which is in flux.

The region’s transition to circular economies will only be possible if we continue upscaling skills and addressing skills gaps with a special focus on youth, women and the most vulnerable.

It will be critical to revamp technical and vocational education, improve skills training through public-private partnerships.

A mixture of hard and soft skills, including STEM, will be vital for scaling up green jobs. Equally important will be boosting means of validation and the recognition of skill by governments, training institutions and businesses.

We need to take a long view as collaborative peer learning in skills development and extending lifelong learning opportunities for jobs of the future will drive SDGs well beyond 2030.

In Thailand, the country’s BCG model is predicated on a well-trained workforce with the right skills for a bio-circular, low-carbon economy.

Importantly, Thailand is becoming a hub of EV manufacturing and a third of vehicles produced locally will be electric by 2030. This will require a supporting network of workers with the relevant skills.

One solution lies in retraining the current cadre of mechanics and engineers and training new ones in cold engines.

Similarly, the energy sector will generate plenty of new green jobs as Thailand transitions to 50% renewables in its energy mix. Upskilling and reskilling will be critical for its success.

The Government is already working to propagate green skills training, which includes training programs for villagers in installing and maintaining solar, wind hydro and bio-fuel projects.

These will be a catalyst for broad-based green job creation.

The upcoming annual forum of the Global Compact Network Thailand, will also prioritise skills for a green and just economy.

The UN will be lending its full technical support to retraining and upskilling for green job creation in country.

Agencies like the ILO and UNEP are already working with technical institutes and policymakers to target these and other sectors of the future, which are currently facing shortages of skilled workers.

Youth can lead the way as they are often technically savvy and understand the need for sustainable lifestyles and environmentally friendly products, including organic produce.

More and more young people aspire to have careers in which they can make positive impacts on the environment and foster social justice.

We need to harness their drive and can-do spirit by equipping them with the necessary skillsets, including science and technology, as we move towards low-carbon and circular economies.

This includes educational strategies that will enable young people to plan their studies and careers in ways that supports them in a green and just transition.

The workshop will serve as an important forum for exchanging best practices, lessons learned and policy recommendations from businesses. educational institutions and policymakers.

We have two eventful days ahead of us and I am very much looking forward to your contributions.

Thank you.