New UN environment chief seeks fair deal for all in climate fight

(Eco Business, 27 Jun 2019) Rich countries are moving away from polluting fossil fuels and adopting cleaner energy, many shutting down coal-fired power plants and leaving cohorts of workers jobless.

The United Nations’ new environment chief, Inger Andersen, will push for fossil fuel workers to get a chance at joining the growing green energy sector, she said in an interview.

The Danish economist, who began as executive director of UN Environment earlier this month, emphasised the need to care for those left unemployed as swathes of the global economy swap carbon-heavy energy like coal for renewable sources like solar.

Such a seismic shift would not happen “in a dime”, she said.

“We need to make sure that we leave no one behind and that it is indeed a just transition,” she added.

Rich countries, particularly, are moving away from polluting fossil fuels and adopting cleaner energy, many shutting down coal-fired power plants and leaving cohorts of workers jobless.

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Eco Business, 27 Jun 2019: New UN environment chief seeks fair deal for all in climate fight