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BRUSSELS -(Dow Jones)- European Union measures to reduce carbon emissions will increase overall employment in the E.U. by 1.5% over the next 10 to 20 years, the World Wide Fund for Nature said in a report Tuesday.
A study carried out by the environmental lobby group shows “green” jobs will continue to expand faster than jobs in polluting industries, such as oil, gas and coal. In the past two decades, improvements in machine technology and labor productivity have led to job losses in the oil, gas and coal industries, and these cutbacks will likely intensify as renewable energy use grows in the E.U., the study said. However, the number of green jobs created in the next decade will exceed the number of jobs lost in polluting industries, it adds.
According to the study, more Europeans are currently working in environmentally friendly jobs than in polluting industries. At least 3.4 million jobs in Europe are directly related to renewable energy, sustainable transport and energy-efficient goods and services, whereas polluting industries supply only 2.8 million jobs, the WWF said.
The European Union decided in December that 20% of energy consumption should come from renewable sources by 2020. Germany and Spain are leading Europe in solar power, while Germany, Spain, and Denmark are ahead in wind power, the WWF said.
-By Elizabeth Bewley, Dow Jones Newswires; +32 2 741 1 485; elizabeth.bewley@ dowjones.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
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