The world is accelerating towards green jobs. Sri Lanka recorded just 38,500 such jobs in 2022, according to its Climate Prosperity Plan, and will need nearly nine times that number, or around 330,000, by 2040, to meet its climate and development ambitions.
Green jobs, defined by the International Labour Organisation as decent work that preserves or restores the environment, drive the shift towards sustainability by reducing emissions, saving energy, and protecting natural resources across the economy. Yet Sri Lanka’s focus on short-term cost-cutting leaves its policies unprepared for this transition, even as the World Economic Forum predicts rapid global growth in green skill sectors that link environmental goals with economic opportunity.
A Missing Plan for Green Jobs
Sri Lanka’s Climate Prosperity Plan projects hundreds of thousands of green jobs by 2040, but there is no strategy to deliver them. Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) systems are outdated, industry links are weak, and businesses lack incentives. Despite ranking 23rd on the Global Climate Risk Index, the country risks missing climate targets and export opportunities without urgent policy action to drive a low-carbon transition.
Lessons From Other Nations
Examples from others in the region show options that Sri Lanka might take. For instance, the Green Jobs Act of 2016 by The Philippines offers tax breaks for green skills training, Australia’s Green Skills Agreement boosts its VET sector, Ghana’s national strategy links workforce development to climate goals, and Indonesia has built green jobs into its long-term development plan. These examples show that legally backed, government-led action plays a role in turning climate plans into real employment gains.
A Green Jobs Roadmap
Sri Lanka needs a clear National Green Jobs Strategy, like those seen globally. This should set training standards, certifications, and pathways, while aligning the technical and vocational sector with industry needs, both current and future.
The International Labour Organisation’s (ILO)
Green Jobs Policy Readiness Assessment offers a practical starting point to measure progress and spot policy gaps. Global partners like the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) are already on board, pledging support for 15,000 green jobs. A skilled green workforce attracts investment, meets global standards, and builds climate resilience. The green transition is underway, and Sri Lanka must decide whether to join or lag behind.