Jobs and Skills for the New Economy

A global coalition of governments, businesses and partners putting people at the centre of the climate transition.

375 Million New Jobs Over the Next Decade

The transition to a low-carbon, resilient economy could generate a net 375 million new jobs over the next decade. Few forces reshaping the global economy carry this much potential to create employment.

Capturing that opportunity depends on whether governments, businesses, and investors treat people, and workforce planning and reskilling, as a deliberate part of the transition.

Investing in jobs, skills, and social equity delivers a triple dividend:

Stronger and more resilient economies
Greater social cohesion
Faster environmental progress.

Jobs and Skills as a Core Pillar of Climate and Economic Strategy

The Initiative works to embed jobs and skills as a core pillar of climate and economic strategy. Together with governments, industry, finance institutions, and implementing organizations, we build workforce strategy directly into the decisions that shape the transition, helping partners plan for that shift and realize its full economic, social, and environmental benefits.

The Roadmap

From Evidence to Delivery at Scale

2024-2025

Phase 1

Evidence & Community

This phase built a shared evidence base and mobilized a broad community of partners, actively engaging seven champion countries and a growing partnership of global and regional organizations. It culminated in the launch of a landmark global report at COP30 and set out the Action Agenda that now underpins the Initiative’s work.

2026-2027

Phase 2

Implementation

The focus shifts to on-the-ground implementation in this phase, alongside continued cross-country and industry alignment and engagement. New partners, particularly those with deep local and regional expertise and representing workers, small businesses and civil society, are invited to join and help deliver on the ambition of the Initiative and its country activities.

2028-2030

Phase 3

Scale

This phase will take the tools and lessons from country-level work and scale them across a much broader group of countries and industries.

The Report

Jobs and Skills for the New Economy: An Action Agenda

Our flagship report provides the evidence base underpinning our work, from the scale of the jobs opportunity to the challenge of closing skills gaps, and sets out a practical Action Agenda for governments, businesses, and investors.

Read the report

People-Centred Case Studies Across the Globe

Philippines

Green jobs by 2030: 4 to 8 million

A pioneer in green jobs policy, with a dedicated Green Jobs Act since 2016. The Green Philippine Employment Projections Model estimates 4 to 8 million green jobs could be created by 2030 across six priority sectors.

Brazil

Boost to GDP by 2030: 6.5%

The Ecological Transformation Plan links climate action directly to job creation, with government modelling projecting 9.5 million green jobs and a 6.5% boost to GDP by 2030.

Kenya

Roles in electric two-wheelers by 2030: 28,400

Smart agriculture and clean transport could create tens of thousands of new jobs by 2030, including nearly 28,400 roles in electric two-wheelers alone. Kenya’s Dual Technical and Vocational Education and Training model and its 360° AgriJobs Approach are building the skills pipeline to match.

India

Jobs in solar and wind by 2030: 3.4 million

Solar and wind are projected to create 3.4 million jobs by 2030. The Climate-Resilient Employees for a Sustainable Tomorrow initiative, led by WRI India and supported by the Ares Charitable Foundation, is upskilling automotive workers in Chennai and Coimbatore for the EV transition.

Pakistan

New jobs by 2030: 327,000

A renewable energy boom could create 327,000 jobs by 2030. The Roshni Baji programme is training women as certified electricians, and the Prime Minister’s Youth Skill Development Program has trained over 600,000 young people since 2006.

A Coalition of Governments, Businesses, Funders and Partners

The Initiative was founded by GIZ, Systemiq, NDC, and WRI, and now collaborates with a growing coalition of governments, businesses, funders, and implementing partners – working together to deliver this agenda.

Focus countries

Collaborating with governments to translate the Action Agenda into country-level plans, programmes, and investment.

Brazil
Kenya
Pakistan
Vietnam
Indonesia
Ethiopia
Turkey

Implementing partners

Our implementing partners bring the research, coordination, and technical expertise that turns this agenda into practical action for the people, communities, countries, and industries navigating the transition.

Business community

The Initiative works closely with the Sustainable Business COP, whose Green Jobs & Skills Working Group contributed to the flagship report, alongside industry federations helping to embed workforce strategy into how their sectors invest and hire.

Core funders

Secretariat

Hosted by Systemiq.

Why Partners are Backing the Initiative

“The transition to a new economy is not a burden, but a historic opportunity to create jobs, empower youth and drive inclusive growth.”
Hon. Dr. Eng. Festus K. Ng’eno, Principal Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, and Forestry, Kenya

“Business and industry have a crucial role to play in this transformation. Investing in green skills and workforce transformation is not just good for the planet — it’s good for business. By building the talent base for the low-carbon economy, companies can unlock new markets, strengthen supply chains, and deliver sustainable growth.”
Ricardo Mussa, Chair of Sustainable Business COP30 (SB COP)

“The transition to a low-carbon economy will only succeed if people are positioned to benefit from it and equipped to drive it forward. By investing in people’s skills and potential, we turn the challenge of decarbonization into an engine for growth and shared prosperity.”
Ani Dasgupta, President & CEO of WRI

“Philanthropy and private investors are key to unlocking the potential of the new economy. Catalytic investments in people’s skills, resilience and potential can help empower communities, expand access to good jobs, and build a more inclusive and sustainable economy.”
Michelle Armstrong, Managing Director at Ares Management and President of the Ares Charitable Foundation

Collaborate with us to turn this opportunity into action

Research and Academia

Strengthen the evidence base by contributing data and insights on what works, reinforcing the case for action.

Funders

Catalytic capital here can unlock far larger public and private flows into a chronically underfunded area.

Businesses

Invest in your workforce and help build the talent pipeline this transition depends on.

Governments

Become a champion country and put workforce strategy at the center of your transition planning.

Delivery Partners

Bring your expertise and existing programmes into a shared platform built to scale.

Contact Us

Whether you want to learn more or explore working together, tell us a little about you and we’ll be in touch.