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Green Jobs

Peru: The world of work can help save the environment

The Peruvian Ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, Luis Enrique Chavez Basagoitia shared his thoughts on opportunities for humanity that can be provided by the green economy; challenges that developing countries, including Peru, must overcome and the key role of technology. He also spoke about the joint appeal of Peru and France in the lead-up to major talks on climate change at the end of this year.

Article | 15 July 2015
Luis Enrique Chavez Basagoitia, Peruvian Ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva
GENEVA (ILO News) ─ Peru currently holds the presidency of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 20). As President until December when France takes over, the Peruvian Ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, Luis Enrique Chavez Basagoitia discussed opportunities and challenges of work and the environment.

These two areas are closely linked: economic growth, on the one hand, can have a negative effect on the environment with serious consequences. On the other hand, the world of work can help remediate environmental degradation. In the future, one cannot envisage sustainable growth if it is not environmentally friendly.

A Franco-Peruvian appeal

During the 104th session of the International Labour Conference in June, Peru and France launched a ministerial appeal that was designed to reflect the concerns of every nation and objectives regarding both labour and the environment. “The crux of the appeal is to state that if we continue like this, there will no longer be any jobs. Without the environment, we won’t be able to work,” explained Ambassador Chavez Basagoitia.

In particular, the appeal urges all countries to pursue climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts that act as a strong driver of growth, job creation and job upgrading.

From now until the COP 21 Paris Conference (30 November to 11 December 2015), the two countries hope to have as many countries on board with the joint appeal as ILO member States. “We do not want to penalize the world of work. But we are conscious that economic development must fully take into account environmental questions. We hold the conviction that far from harming business, respect for the environment can even be beneficial to the world of work and the economy,” said Ambassador Chavez Basagoitia.

Technology to the rescue of the environment

The Ambassador places great importance on new technologies that can be used to extract natural resources in an environmentally friendly way. Peru’s national experiences provide some concrete examples.

“In order to extract oil from the virgin forest, we recently developed a very promising technique that is called ‘offshore-inland’. We transposed the same drilling methods used at offshore platforms to land located in virgin forest. Accessible exclusively by helicopter, this type of drilling site requires no construction of roads and preserves the ecosystem,” indicated Ambassador Chavez Basagoitia.

This example of sustainable development demonstrates how green jobs can be created while the economy grows in harmony with the environment so that it can be preserved as much as possible for future generations, including workers.

Mipaya gas exploration camp, run by Argentina’s Pluspetrol Company, which is part of the Camisea project in the Amazon jungle near Cuzco
“Margins are perhaps a bit lower, but the profit shows up in the long term. This project could go ahead and was approved by local residents, thanks to this new, much less invasive technique,” said the Ambassador.

In the past, Peru had very tough experiences regarding mineral extraction projects: promises to clean up the sites ─ made to local populations who were harmed by these lucrative but polluting operations ─ were often not kept.

Technologies that reduce environmental impact will help build the confidence of locals. However, it is not possible to achieve zero pollution. Compromises must be found and rich countries are encouraged to assist developing countries so that new environmentally friendly technologies can be employed.

Informality: a big polluter

What are the obstacles to achieving a green economy? Informality — work that takes place outside of the legal system — in which half of all workers work worldwide (47% in Latin America), is problematic for the environment.

“Frankly speaking, what pollutes the most, what is the most deleterious in Peru in terms of the extraction of natural resources, particularly in the mining industry ¬— but this also applies to forestry — is informality. Normally, a developing country is a country that is, in a way, sub-optimally administered. The State is not present everywhere and if laws do exist, we don’t always have the means to verify compliance,” said the Ambassador.

Recommendation 204, which was approved during the International Labour Conference 2015, on the transition to the formal economy, will provide Peru and other developing countries with the first international instrument offering guidance, based on best practices, to transition businesses to formality.

Grateful for the vision of the ILO, the Ambassador declares: “One must congratulate the ILO on taking initiatives as important as including the issue of work in the COP 21 agenda. France and Peru were very motivated by the ILO to launch our appeal which raises awareness of the link between climate change and decent work. It was the ILO who put this concept on the table, where it still is now and I think it will make its way.”