- As India transitions from coal to clean energy, jobs are claimed to make the shift as well.
- The transition is far more complex than it appears. Who actually gets these jobs?
- Mongabay-India’s fifth Clean Energy Talks webinar discussed whether fossil fuel workers will benefit from clean energy jobs or will the transition mean contractual jobs for a new workforce.
From the time India announced an ambitious renewable energy plan in 2015, there has been a series of reports about millions of jobs that the clean energy sector can create. Renewable energy jobs are claimed to embrace the shifting millions, involved directly or indirectly in the coal sector. The transition is far more complex than it appears.
A World Economic Forum (WEF) report said India’s shift to a net-zero economy could contribute more than “$1 trillion in economic opportunity by 2030 and create 50 million jobs by 2070”. But who gets these jobs and benefits from them? Mongabay-India’s fifth webinar aimed to discuss questions about jobs that the transition to clean energy will generate and understand the rights of the workers involved in the sector.
Studies have identified that renewable energy jobs may not always be a local option for fossil fuel workers as the region where each is based may not be the same.
The panellists included Mandvi Singh, Programme Manager, Energy and Climate Change, iForest, Shweta Srinivasan, Energy Programme Manager, India Climate Collaborative and Ashim Roy, Founding General Secretary, New Trade Union Initiative.
In the webinar, panellists discussed whether fossil fuel workers will benefit from clean energy jobs or will the transition mean contractual jobs for a new workforce.
Mongabay-India’s series of talks on clean energy will continue every month and will feature industry specialists, researchers and senior environment journalists. Sign up for our newsletter or follow us on social media @mongabayindia for updates on the next and future webinars.
Read more: The balance between jobs in the renewable energy and fossil fuel sectors could play on India’s energy transition