Sept. 29, 2008 - A new U.N. study on the impact of an emerging global "green economy" says efforts to tackle climate change could result in the creation of millions of new green jobs in the coming decades.

Though the report is generally optimistic about the creation of new jobs to address climate change, it also warns that many of these new jobs can be "dirty, dangerous and difficult." Sectors of concern include agriculture and recycling where often low pay, insecure employment contracts, and exposure to health hazardous materials is the norm.

Among other key findings in the report:

The global market for environmental products and services is projected to double from $1.3 billion per year at present to $2.7 billion by 2020, according to a study cited in the report. Half of this market is in energy efficiency and the balance in sustainable transport, water supply, sanitation and waste management. Sectors that will be particularly important in terms of their environmental, economic and employment impact are energy supply, in particular renewable energy, buildings and construction, transportation, basic industries, agriculture and forestry.

A similar report suggests that the green collar job boom is already underway with green energy companies generating 8.5 million jobs and nearly $1 trillion in revenue in the U.S.

To download the U.N. report, Green Jobs: Towards Decent work in a Sustainable, Low-Carbon World, click here (PDF).