The world of work is intrinsically linked to the natural environment. Jobs in agriculture, fisheries, forestry, tourism and other industries including pharmaceuticals, textiles and food and beverage depend on a healthy environment. Temperature rises like those expected due to climate change will increase the number of days that are too hot to work, putting workers’ health at risk and reducing productivity.

We may soon reach the point in which the jobs created or improved by economic development risk being destroyed or worsened by the resulting environmental degradation. The world of work needs environmental sustainability. Social justice requires it, given the large inequalities in the impact of the negative effects of environmental degradation.

Currently, 1.2 billion jobs rely directly on the effective management and sustainability of a healthy environment, in particular jobs in farming, fishing and forestry dependent on natural processes such as air and water purification, soil renewal and fertilization, pollination, pest control, the moderation of extreme temperatures, and protection against storms, floods and strong winds. Environmental degradation threatens these ecosystem services and the jobs that depend on them.