Good Green Jobs for Whom?

Abstract

This chapter looks at the ongoing debate about the green economy from a feminist perspective. 'Green economy' and 'green jobs' have become new buzzwords in the international sustainable development discourse. The promises of the green economy include the reconciliation of economy and ecology, the creation of new green jobs, and the reduction of social inequalities on a global scale. The notion of a green economy is clearly popular. The promotion of green jobs should serve several purposes simultaneously, namely to protect natural resources and means of livelihood, to raise the quality of life, and to create secure, highly qualified jobs. The assumption that the green economy falls short of the mark is echoed in feminist proposals to resolve the current crises. Since feminist expert groups had been working in those twenty years to substantiate the topic on both the scientific and the political level, this relegation of gender issues to the sidelines requires explanation.