Green jobs for youth

Story by Ms. Brianna Fruean, 14 years, Samoa


“Young people are the most important resources a country has.” - Executive Director of UNFPA, Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin


The voice of youth at the Rio+20

15 June 2012, Rio de Janeiro - Our youth will be affected by decisions made today at Rio+20. We must invest in Youth, in their education, health and development for future sustainable living.

Young people make up half of the World’s population with the majority of young people aged between 15 -24 are unemployed and looking for jobs.

Countries must engage their youth in programs to try and reduce poverty.

The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) has established a tool kit for young people to use to obtain green jobs. A green job is a modified job based around issues and solutions having to do with the environment.

The green job toolkit can help young people, providing the opportunity to improve and achieve higher paying employment and positions.

“Young people are the most important resources a country has," said the Executive director of UNFPA, Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin during a special presentation at a Rio+20 UN Conference for Sustainable Development side event, “Green Jobs for Youth”.

“In today’s world, people are focusing on green economy. There will be no jobs or an economy without capital resources that the earth provides. This is why today’s generation are advancing to jobs based around an earth that is sustainable. Green Economy goes hand-in-hand with green jobs.”