The Ministry of Human Resources hosted an event entitled ASEAN Green Jobs Forum to address the region’s growing demand for green skills and promote a just transition towards a sustainable future.
“The platform for collaboration and action to equip the region with the necessary skills and policies to navigate a sustainable future. By addressing the evolving needs of the green economy and ensuring a just transition for all, this initiative can contribute significantly to ASEAN’s long-term prosperity and environmental well-being,” commented Dato’ Sri Khairul Dzaimee Daud from MOHR
Ambassador Tiffany McDonald said, “ASEAN and Australia share a region and a future. Under our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, we are already collaborating with ASEAN to combat climate change and meaningfully support ASEAN’s green energy transition. Australia’s green technologies, world-class education, supply chains, financing and investment, can continue to help unlock economic, environmental, and social benefits for the region.”
Discussion topics at the forum covered crucial areas such as:
- TVET and Skills Development: Building knowledge-sharing platforms, supporting institutions in producing graduates with green skills, addressing skills shortages and enhancing worker capacity in sustainable industries.
- Labour Markets and Policies: Analysing labour market needs, identifying skill gaps, sharing strategies for integrating green jobs into policy frameworks, ensuring occupational safety and health considerations and exploring social protection models for a just transition.
- Environment Considerations: Promoting environmentally sustainable green jobs and industries, developing essential skills and knowledge, and ensuring inclusivity and equity in the transition.
- Private Sector Engagement: Fostering collaboration between governments and private entities to meet future green job demands, exploring financing mechanisms and incentives, and evaluating the impact of private sector innovation on green jobs.
- MSMEs: Supporting green innovation and entrepreneurship in small and medium-sized enterprises, identifying barriers to their transition, and exploring growth opportunities.
- Regional Cooperation: Learning from and sharing best practices with neighbouring countries, facilitating successful coordination across member states, and maximising the impact of ASEAN mechanisms in driving the green jobs agenda.
The Forum is set to contribute to the implementation of the ASEAN Declaration on Promoting Green Jobs for Equity and Inclusive Growth, which serves as a guide for ASEAN Member States in their endeavours to promote green jobs while ensuring environmental sustainability and inclusive economic development within the region.
