Eco-friendly approaches for adaptation and mitigation of the impact of climate change and environmental degradation on economic growth affects the labour market. The market needs to adjust in terms of changes in the occupational structures and skill responses to be able to sustain the environment and growth at national and local levels. As a result of the transition towards a green economy, some new jobs will be created while some existing ones will be eliminated, some new occupations may emerge and there may be a need to retrain some of the existing employees to adapt to the changing conditions.

This chapter offers a set of plausible new definitions of green jobs that are consistent with climate change governance, and identifies focus areas for new skills development based on both mitigation and adaptation activities. The lists of projects and activities relevant at local development levels are then mapped into local as well as non-local skill development activities that enable: i) effective transition to a low-carbon economy; ii) integration with the adaptation activities; and iii) alignment with local economic development strategies, including the promotion of job growth. The roles of transaction costs and public policies to assist an effective transition to the green economy via development of green skills are clarified. The chapter also offers a summary case study of the United States’ green jobs policy approaches, scenarios and changes in skill requirements. Illustrative sample strategies for green jobs at state and federal levels are reviewed, following the existing approaches toward the green economy and green jobs.

In France, buildings consume more than 40% of all energy. Reducing this consumption is one of the main objectives of French climate change mitigation policies. This objective represents a major challenge for the construction sector, which needs to be ready to deliver buildings and renovations offering high energy performance. If current construction and renovation technologies are to deliver the expected results, they require specific skills that most building sector companies do not currently have. This skills gap is a strong obstacle to reaching the set objectives.