Côte d’Ivoire has one of the fastest growing economies in Africa, but the country is extremely vulnerable to climate change. Around half the workforce are employed in cocoa, coffee or cashew farming, where harvests depend on the weather.
So the Ivorian government is investing in projects to adapt to climate change and to halt deforestation. But it has also renewed its commitment to reducing Côte d’Ivoire’s greenhouse gas emissions by 28% by 2030. That pledge has accelerated the growth of green jobs in the West African country, which is now making progress towards a green economy. Green jobs are defined as jobs that help to preserve or restore the environment, whether that’s in traditional sectors like manufacturing and construction, or in new, emerging green sectors like renewable energy.
Several sectors in Côte d’Ivoire are now changing as a result, and new professions are emerging. That is creating new opportunities, and raising hopes among young people especially that they can help protect their environment.