Creating job opportunities as cities move beyond fossil fuels
C40 cities are on track to create 50 million good, green jobs globally by 2030, with 21 million already delivered since mayors made this commitment in 2022. Together with workers and other stakeholders, cities are building more inclusive economies that deliver both climate progress and economic security.
The world of work is changing, and climate action is driving it. To meet the urgent challenge of protecting the people and places we love from climate impacts, cities are creating new green jobs in emerging occupations such as electric vehicle technicians or heat pump installers. They’re also transitioning existing jobs into greener sectors: electricians retrofitting buildings, technicians maintaining clean energy systems, urban foresters cooling neighbourhoods, and much more.
Ensuring climate action creates opportunities for everyone
As cities shift away from polluting industries and infrastructure, workers can face increasing uncertainty, unless this transition is just, equitable and grounded in social dialogue. Meeting this challenge requires cities to invest in workforce development that benefits all, especially those often marginalised from employment opportunities. Working with workers and unions, cities can co-develop just transition pathways that provide security and stability as people transition into green sectors.
Why ‘good’, green jobs?
It’s not enough for jobs to be ‘green’. Good, green jobs provide fair wages, stable employment, and safe working conditions, ensuring that climate action and economic opportunity aren’t competing priorities.
Explore our frequently asked questions below for an introduction to good, green jobs and what cities are doing to deliver them.
Find what you need to explore, create or improve access to good, green jobs
This page brings together the data, tools, and examples cities use to build green workforces.
- Explore the interactive map to see where jobs are being created and what approaches different regions are taking
- Understand the employment landscape with data showing how jobs break down by region
- Use the interactive tracker to find specific and replicable programmes and policies that are driving green job creation and workforce development
- Access how-to guides written by practitioners
- Read research quantifying economic benefits and projecting future workforce demands
- Explore case studies that have tested approaches
- Find answers to frequently asked questions about good, green jobs
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Explore the interactive map
Where are good, green jobs being created?
The interactive map shows how many good, green jobs exist in each region. Click any region to watch videos from people in good green jobs, read case studies from cities in that area, and download reports with detailed analysis.
Use this to see where transformation is happening fastest, compare different regional approaches, and find examples from contexts similar to yours.
Worldwide
202.82 M
Total employment
21.02 M
Green jobs
Africa
22.86 M
Total employment
2.56 M
Green jobs
East, Southeast Asia & Oceania
42.45 M
Total employment
4.06 M
Green jobs
Europe
33.11 M
Total employment
2.83 M
Green jobs
Latin America
34.23 M
Total employment
4.95 M
Green jobs
North America
42.33 M
Total employment
4.31 M
Green jobs
South & West Asia
27.83 M
Total employment
2.31 M
Green jobs
Understand the employment landscape
This data breaks down employment across C40 cities by region. Green jobs already represent over 10% of total employment in these cities, but that varies significantly by region, from 8.5% in Europe to 14.4% in Latin America, reflecting different economic contexts and stages of transition across sectors.
Green jobs: Roles in sectors considered fully green (repair, waste collection, recycling) and partially green sectors (energy generation, manufacturing, construction) where work directly cuts emissions.
Other jobs: Roles that aren’t explicitly green or non-green. Some have the potential to transition into green jobs as economies shift. Others (like arts sector jobs) don’t directly cause emissions but may not fit traditional green job definitions.
Non-green jobs: Roles directly tied to fossil fuels and emissions generation, or excluded from this analysis until sector-specific methods for estimating green activity are developed. A just transition means planning pathways for these workers into new opportunities. Access the full report and methodology to understand how jobs are classified, see data sources and limitations, and adapt this approach to analyse your own city’s workforce.
| Region | Total employment in C40 cities | Green jobs | Green jobs % | Other jobs | Other jobs % | Non-green jobs | Non-green jobs % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Africa | 22,864,384 | 2,561,759 | 11.2% | 18,089,277 | 79.1% | 2,213,348 | 9.7% |
| East, Southeast Asia & Oceania | 42,448,397 | 4,056,156 | 9.6% | 34,723,221 | 81.8% | 3,669,020 | 8.6% |
| Europe | 33,107,619 | 2,829,551 | 8.5% | 28,742,794 | 86.8% | 1,535,274 | 4.6% |
| Latin America | 34,232,329 | 4,945,31 | 14.4% | 26,519,498 | 77.5% | 2,767,518 | 8.1% |
| North America | 42,333,178 | 4,312,712 | 10.2% | 35,662,269 | 84.2% | 2,358,197 | 5.6% |
| South & West Asia | 27,829,405 | 2,313,639 | 8.3% | 19,542,172 | 70.2% | 5,973,594 | 21.5% |
| Total | 202,815,312 | 21,019,130 | 10.4% | 163,279,231 | 80.5% | 18,516,95 | 9.1% |
Use the good, green jobs programmes tracker
Search by city, region, sector, or project type to find what cities are doing. The tracker showcases actions that directly create jobs, training programmes filling skills gaps, collaboration with the private sector that is driving green job creation, partnerships with unions and workers, and targeted initiatives opening pathways for communities.
People building the green economy
Tatay Sablay is a farmer with Quezon City’s Grow QC programme.
Tatay Sablay says he’s proud to be a farmer, as his good, green job helped the community access food during the pandemic.
Tainá is a solar engineer whose job is part of the Salvador Solar programme.
Tainá finds happiness and fulfilment in her good, green job, and proudly demonstrates how women can thrive in the clean energy sector.
Yaharia is a construction apprentice employed as part of Seattle’s Green New Deal.
Yaharia says her good, green job means she no longer has to worry about making rent, and she can help take care of her mother in her retirement.People building the green economy
Case studies
Frequently asked questions
What are cities doing to deliver good, green jobs?
Mayors are driving the creation of millions of green jobs by implementing climate action that expands public transport and waste infrastructure, enhances urban adaptation, and brings many other benefits for people. These projects not only create direct employment, they also shift markets toward a greener, fairer economy.
Mayors are also using their convening power to unite partners, including private sector, skills providers, training institutions, local organisations, and unions. This ensures climate action delivers quality jobs for all.
In 2021, cities and unions made a call to action for other cities and stakeholders to ensure that climate action delivers a just transition and good quality jobs for all. This includes supporting communities and workers dependent on high-polluting industries to transition into new opportunities and jobs as our economies transform.
What progress have cities made on creating good, green jobs?
At the 2022 C40 World Mayors Summit in Buenos Aires, C40 city mayors committed to drive the creation of 50 million good green jobs worldwide by 2030.
C40’s latest analysis of 81 C40 cities (2025), following the commitment, shows that mayors are delivering on their word, with over 21 million good, green jobs already existing in these cities. Cities need to continue investing and ramping up green workforce development programmes. In order for cities to go faster and further, it is critical to ensure a cohesive approach between mayors, national governments, international financing institutions, the private sector, and unions.
What’s the urgency behind the 50 million good, green jobs target?
Tackling the climate crisis requires transforming how cities operate through actions such as retrofitting millions of buildings, expanding and greening transportation systems, building adaptation infrastructure to make cities more resilient, and transitioning the energy infrastructure. This work needs a large, skilled workforce to do it.
Following previous C40 research, C40 cities committed to create 50 million good, green jobs to do their part in reducing emissions and deliver climate action that meets the goals of the Paris Agreement. . Green jobs will help build healthier, fairer communities, reduce unemployment, and rejuvenate economies, breaking free from fossil fuel dependency.
Cities represent 80% of global GDP and are uniquely positioned to create these opportunities. Investing in good, green jobs now could result in 30% more employment compared to business-as-usual, save USD 280 billion in health costs, and reduce air pollution by 30%. Furthermore, this change also presents an opportunity to create more inclusive economies by ensuring that the jobs created provide opportunities for everyone.
What actions are cities taking to deliver good, green jobs?
Cities are taking concrete action, including:
- Leading by example: For example, by retrofitting public buildings and establishing living wages for municipal waste workers.
- Championing equity: Setting hiring goals for minority- and women-owned businesses and investing in training for underrepresented communities.
- Building partnerships: Collaborating with workers, unions, educational institutions, and employers to create apprenticeships and on-the-job training.
- Planning ahead: Analysing workforce needs and aligning training programs with actual job opportunities.
What qualifications are needed for good, green jobs?
Good, green jobs span various skill levels and many don’t require a university degree. While some roles are more specialised, many are entry-level or accessible through apprenticeships and earn-while-you-learn programmes. Recent C40 research found that 65% of projected shortages fall into low- or medium-skilled categories across the sectors of waste, transport, and construction. Implementing inclusive training and skills-building programmes for local communities is essential for cities to meet the demand for green workers.
Vocational training and reskilling programmes offered by community colleges can help prepare workers for new roles or transition from high-polluting industries to the green economy.
Cities are also addressing practical barriers by providing transportation, childcare, or housing assistance, ensuring access isn’t just about qualifications but removing obstacles that prevent people from pursuing opportunities.
Explore useful and practical information on skills for green jobs and how to access them:
- Issue brief for cities: Skills for green jobs: what green skills are, which sectors need them, and how cities are helping residents access training.
- Let’s set the record straight on good, green jobs: answers to common questions, including why you don’t necessarily need a university degree, which sectors are hiring, and how to find training programmes.
What role does the private sector play in creating good, green jobs?
Working together with the private sector is essential: cities can’t reach the 50 million jobs target alone. Cities are creating jobs through the implementation of their climate action plans, and creating the policy frameworks that can ensure the jobs are good, green and accessible. The private sector is also playing a key role in creating jobs and delivering training at scale.
The private sector plays a key role in:
- investing in apprenticeships and training programmes
- creating significant green employment through scaling green industries like clean energy and sustainable construction
- meeting local hiring and minority business participation goals
- responding to federal and city-level incentives that are shifting the market to greener practices
How-to guides
Resources
RELATED
The C40 ICA Fund supports local governments to ensure city-led climate action is just, fair, inclusive and benefits all residents.
Resources to help you understand green jobs, build skills, and find opportunities in the green economy.
Cities are delivering climate action that addresses inequality, creates good green jobs, and ensures everyone has access to clean air, healthy food, and safe homes.
Sources
[1] https://www.c40knowledgehub.org/s/article/From-shortages-to-solutions-Good-green-jobs-and-labor-migration-in-cities?language=en_US