Understanding actual mechanisms through which low emission transformation will influence the labor market is crucial for citizens as well as public officials elected by them. A careful examination of processes taking place on the labor market indicates that one needn’t be afraid that the introduction of policy reducing emission intensity in the economy will be associated with either a drastic increase in unemployment or a meaningful fall. This is because green jobs will substitute jobs in other sectors, including those associated with high pollution, such as mining or the most emission-intensive manufacturing branches.
The key lies in the efficiency of the economy’s adjustment to changes brought by low emission transformation. Polish central and local administrations should thus focus on creating conditions favorable for shifting labor and capital to industries ensuring sustainable development, one that would incorporate environmental and resource constraints, while avoiding unnecessary economic and social costs. This means most of all:
- Greater emphasis on disseminating cost-effective technologies that reduce the use of natural resources as well as emissions of greenhouse gases and other pollutants.
- Investment in low emission technologies characterized by large development potential, focused on building strong centers supplying low emission goods and services.
- Improving the situation on peripheral labor markets by supporting distributed energy generation and energy-efficient construction.
- Support for restructuring in areas dependent on high emission industries.
- Introduction of a green tax reform, including higher taxes on natural resource use and emissions, lower labor taxation.
- Cost-effective protection of emission- and energy-intensive industries from negative effects of unilateral imposition of costs of EU and Poland’s environmental policies
