Efforts pulled to keep global warming below the 2°C as decided in Paris agreement (concluded on December 12, 2015) could lead to the suppression of 350, 000 jobs across Africa by 2030. This was revealed in a report issued May 14 by the International Labor Organization (ILO).

The document entitled “World Employment and Social Outlook 2018: Greening with jobs” showed a comparative estimate of job creation and job destruction related to the transition towards a greener economy by 2030. According to estimates, 24 million new jobs will globally be created while 6 million others would disappear: the balance would then result in 18 million new jobs.

Net job creation will be concentrated in America, Asia, the Pacific and Europe, with 3 million, 14 million and 2 million jobs respectively.

In contrast, Middle East and Africa would be the most affected with respectively about 300, 000 (-0.48%) and 350, 000 (-0.04%) job losses due to their dependence on fossil fuel and mining, respectively.

Oil extraction and refining sector is set to lose more than one million jobs. Meanwhile, in the electricity sector, the creation of 2.5 million jobs in renewable energy would more than offset the cut of 400,000 jobs in fossil fuel-based production.

Let’s note that job creation will particularly focus on circular economy mainly in recycling and sorting activities as well as repair, rental, and re-use of objects.