Minc argues for "green jobs" at UNEP panel

In the conference panel "Green Economy: Implementing a new climate agreement", promoted by UNEP and the ILO (International Labor Organization) at COP-15, in Copenhagen (Denmark), the Brazilian minister of the Environment, Carlos Minc, said that thanks to the possibility of the creation of "green jobs", the Federal Government was persuaded "to set bold goals" for reducing CO2 by 2020, between 36.1% and 39%.

According to Minc, part of the government feared that the establishment of "bolder goals" would imply "the sacrifice of people and jobs". However, added the minister, "millions of green jobs would be created in industry and agriculture".

As one of the side events of COP-15, the panel was chaired by the executive director of UNEP, Achim Steiner, who praised the commitment of Brazil in creating so-called "green jobs". Listening to the speeches of Minc and other Environment ministers invited to the panel, Steiner pointed out that "green jobs" are growing around the world.

In his speech, Carlos Minc gave some examples of industries that will employ more people, so that the bold targets to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases can be met.

According to him, in agriculture, with the use of direct planting techniques, "it's possible to create more jobs and emit less CO2".  By guaranteeing minimum prices for ten extracted products of the Amazon rainforest, the government is encouraging the creation of jobs in the sector. And the so-called "green steel", produced from charcoal by the economic planting of trees, will create jobs and enhance the preservation of native forests in Brazil.

The minister also highlighted a recent auction of wind energy promoted by the government, to produce 1800 MW of electricity. He said it will require the tripling of production capacity of wind power, and, for that, the creation of new jobs.