We define green jobs as work in agricultural, manufacturing, research and development (R&D), administrative, and service activities that contribute substantially to preserving or restoring environmental quality. Specifically, but not exclusively, this includes jobs that help to protect ecosystems and biodiversity; reduce energy, materials, and water consumption through high efficiency strategies; de-carbonize the economy; and minimize or altogether avoid generation of all forms of waste and pollution.
From a broad conceptual perspective, employment will be affected in at least four ways as the economy is oriented toward greater sustainability:
- First, in some cases, additional jobs will be created—as in the manufacturing of pollution-control devices added to existing production equipment.
- Second, some employment will be substituted—as in shifting from fossil fuels to renewable, or from truck manufacturing to rail car manufacturing, or from land filling and waste incineration to recycling.
- Third, certain jobs may be eliminated without direct replacement—as when packaging materials are discouraged or banned and their production is discontinued.
- Fourth, it would appear that many existing jobs (especially such as plumbers, electricians, metalworkers, and construction workers) will simply be transformed and redefined as day-to-day skill sets, work methods, and profiles are greened.
