BrazilRenewable energy commitment of $2 trillion to create 10 million jobs
Roughly 13,000 renewable energy projects are currently in line for financing worldwide – chalking up to a total required investment of around $2 trillion. A new EY-Parthenon study projects that finding the necessary funds could create 10 million jobs worldwide.
The European Climate Foundation commissioned the global strategy consulting firm to provide an overview of investment opportunities in the global renewable energy landscape – via a comprehensive study of pipeline projects in 47 countries across the Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa and Oceania.
The findings: 13,000 projects lie in waiting for a cumulative $2 trillion in financing. Green-minded investors – who are rapidly growing in numbers – are spoiled for choice, and EY-Parthenon’s study reveals that the countries in focus could reach more than 20% of their emission-cut targets for this decade if this pipeline is cleared. And there are sizeable economic benefits too.
Renwable energy projects have a vast and versatile supply chain with job opportunities at every stage – from direct involvement in building, construction and installation, to mining, manufacturing and transporting the necessary inputs, topped off with a host of engineering, logistics and management roles involved in bringing a project to life.
Taking all these direct and indirect opportunities into account, EY-Parthenon estimates that the “visible project pipeline” across the world right now has the potential to create up to 10 million jobs. Around half are local to the project site, while the other half are peppered across the supply chain and other oversight functions.
Some countries will take the lion’s share of jobs: Greater China, for instance, could benefit from 2 million jobs in a more active renewables supply chain, while the US could generate 1.8 million. Also high in potential are India and Brazil with more than half a million each, and the UK with over 400,000 prospective job opportunities.
Spain, Poland, France and Germany would be the top gainers in the EU – each with a potential addition of between 100,000 and 300,000 new jobs – while other moderately job rich areas include Canada, Japan, Russia and Mexico.
The numbers are not set in stone: EY’s Belgium-based global energy & resources leader Serge Colle explained: “countries that strategically develop manufacturing capability for renewables will realise more of the potential for job creation in the supply chain.” Meeting these goals will likely require concerted efforts from governments and private players alike.
And the quicker the better – according to the researchers. Clearing the pipeline within two years – “highly accelerated” by EY-Parthenon’s characterisation – would help create roughly 5 million jobs per year. Doing so in three to four years would cap the annual job addition below 4 million. And at current rates of financing, it would take over six years to clear the pipeline – leaving job creation down below 2.5 million per year.
So speed is of the essence, although the researchers stress that the economic benefits will persist for years to come – with long-term energy transitions underway worldwide. “Investment in renewable energy is a key opportunity for future-proof local job creation and regional revitalisation,” concluded Colle.
