Climate change has potential implications for employment in Europe. Even moderate climate change will affect economic activity and employment. Some regions and economic sectors are particularly vulnerable. Increased warming will be likely to have damaging consequences.

Account must be taken of the employment impact of the objectives for reducing the EU’s CO2 emissions by 2030, in four key economic sectors which together produce 90% of the CO2 emissions in the EU: energy production, transport, the steel and cement industries, and housing/construction; starting with the construction of forecasting models for policies and measures to reduce emissions as an alternative to the ’business-as-usual’ scenario. The measures to enable the EU to reduce its CO2 emissions by some 40% by 2030 do not destroy jobs overall, but they do substantially change the supply of and demand for jobs and qualifications within and between sectors:

 Employment in the energy production sector is sensitive to energy-saving policies. Globally, however, the net effect of energy savings on employment would be positive.
 A well-designed climate policy can make a contribution to maintaining employment in the energy-intensive industries in Europe. However, this demands a redefinition of the EU’s existing climate policy.

 Transport offers huge potential for job creation in means of transport other than road vehicles (lorries, cars, motorbikes), and in public transport. On the other hand, employment in freight and passenger transport by road, and the whole automobile sector, might decline compared with the business-as-usual scenario, while remaining stable at today’s levels.
 The building/construction sector represents a very important source of employment, but it has to tackle the challenges of training in ‘sustainable building’ and innovation.