Creating productive employment relating to the environment

The expansion of employment opportunities in the relatively new sector of environmental technologies and services.

According to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the environment sector in Germany, Britain and France is worth annually US$ 21 billion, US$ 11 billion and US$ 10 billion respectively. The annual growth rate of 5% in the sector is second only to information technology at 8%.

Professional employment opportunities in the environmental sector concern: (1) remediation of sites; (2) pollution control measurements; (3) environmental impact assessment; (4) clean technologies; (5) environmental management (including eco-auditing & eco-balance); (6) sustainable production and design; (7) waste management (solid/liquid), monitoring, treatment of hazardous wastes; (8) recycling technologies; and (9) environmental communication, education and training.

In 1990, the environmental equipment and services industries and environment-related activities in the OECD countries employed nearly 8 million people (OECD 1996).