Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
government regulation is required to address the current inadequacies that
are evident within the contemporary working population. Watson
et al.
(2003) argue that governments have over recent years promoted market reg-
ulation rather than institutional regulation and that it is this focus that has
created many of the problems within the current labour market.
The Sustainable Europe Research Institute (SERI 2002) proposes that in
order to influence political debate, principles and recommendations are
needed explaining how environment and employment policies can be inte-
grated so that they can lead to positive synergies. The emphasis on employ-
ment policies that are an integral part of sustainable development (and vice
versa) works towards the achievement of joint employment and environ-
ment policy goals.
Commitment to sustainability is in the interests of not only current but
also future generations. In order to look forward to a future where some
form of work is an option for all, the government does have choices concern-
ing the type of work being performed and how it is performed. Accordingly,
we suggest that:
•
public funding and taxation arrangements affect the allocation of
resources and the composition of jobs and should, therefore, be
reconsidered in the light of how they can support more sustainable
and equitable work provision than currently exists
•
jobs can be generated in the non-market sector (such as volunteer
work) to support the unemployed and the underemployed,
particularly as service sector jobs are generally labour intensive and
comprise low energy use so there is no need for supporting
technology
•
more creative policies be explored for ways of supporting jobs
through linking them to environmental sustainability. For example,
taxes on polluting activities could generate revenue to assist in the
financing of non-polluting activities
•
long-term investments in education, training, research and public
infrastructure (e.g. transport, health) be seen as capital, not current,
expenditure
•
qualifications in the 'eco-efficient' technologies could be promoted. If
industry compliance was essential then this should be supported
•
employers be encouraged to investigate job-share arrangements and
shorter working weeks
