Although the potential for job creation in RE has been assessed at the global level, there is a growing need to investigate the employment effects at the national level. Despite the importance of RE employment co-benefits, few national-level assessments of employment effects of RE capacity targets under the NDCs exist, particularly in low and middle-income countries. It is increasingly relevant to study the employment effects of the energy transition at the national level as more and more countries commit to carbon neutrality by 2050 and explore pathways to power sector decarbonization. Furthermore, policymakers can gain valuable insights from comparing the employment creation potential of RE with fossil fuel-based technologies. The study assesses the potential for employment generation of new installed capacity of RE in the power sector in selected GGGI countries. The analysis highlights the important role that assessments of employment effects can play during the revision of countries’ NDCs. Quantifying the employment effects of investments in RE could provide significant support to countries that are developing their RE strategies and power sector decarbonization plans. Ultimately the study provides evidence-based policy support to national governments for assessing the employment effects of RE targets in the power sector during the revision of their NDCs while simultaneously addressing the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 7 (affordable and clean energy), 8 (decent work and economic growth) and 13 (climate action).   

The study has the following high-level objectives: 

• to identify and assess RE technologies’ potential to generate employment under different future power sector pathways;  
• to support and strengthen evidence-based policy frameworks of countries NDC revision and implementation concerning power sector RE targets from an employment perspective; 
• to support countries to incorporate the assessment of the employment generation potential in the development of RE strategies and NDCs;  and 
• to identify and assess the occupations and skills required by the RE sector to support and advance the energy transition. 

The study results are intended to inform and support different stakeholders and policymakers in the three countries assessed. Countries’ NDC related agencies, climate change-related and energy departments, planning, environmental and energy ministries, labor organizations, energy companies and developers, and vocational training institutes and universities could benefit from understanding the study outcomes. 

The geographical scope of the study covers three pilot countries from three different continents: Mexico, Indonesia, and Rwanda. 

Impact: N/A 

Outcome: N/A 

Project Outputs completed in 2019: 

i. Green Growth Policies:N/A

 ii. Green Investments:N/A

iii. Capacity Building and Knowledge Products:  

• Total of 8 capacity building activities in the form of 2 stakeholder consultation workshops on renewable energy employment assessment of decarbonization scenarios of the Indonesian power sector, 1 final dissemination workshop in Indonesia to share knowledge and preliminary results of the renewable energy employment study in Indonesia, 1 consultation workshop in Rwanda to share knowledge and preliminary results of the renewable energy employment study, GGGweek conference on Inclusive Renewable energy transition and generation of jobs, launching the Green Jobs Assessment study in Fiji, participation in the Sustainable Energy and Jobs Platform, and Consultation workshop on defining green employment and identifying green sub-sectors in Senegal.  

• Total of 4 knowledge products produced in the form of publications.  

Project Manager: Stelios Grafakos