More than three million Australian jobs are under threat from efforts to tackle climate change, the CSIRO has found.

But a CSIRO report, commissioned by the Australian Conservation Foundation and the Dusseldorp Skills Forum, says workers will find new "green-collar" jobs as net employment surges in the long-term.

The report's modelling shows that despite the introduction of an emissions trading scheme in 2010, employment will grow by between 2.6 and 3.3 million jobs by 2025.

"Jobs continue to grow strongly," the report found.

Employment is tipped to drop in some sectors after the introduction of the trading scheme, but is forecast to recover from 2017, and to increase in the long-term to higher levels than the present.

Net job growth was predicted in mining, energy, industry and farming.

New 'green collar' sector

New "green-collar" jobs will be created in renewable energy, constructing green buildings and appliances, and developing alternative transport.

The report urges governments and training providers to develop strategies for skilling "green-collar" workers.

ACF executive director Don Henry said there were big opportunities in green jobs.

"CSIRO has shown we can simultaneously grow jobs and our economy while reducing our environmental footprint.

"Jobs in sectors that are currently high-carbon emitters, like transport, manufacturing and construction are also expected to grow and will need to be turned into `green-collar' jobs in a clean economy."

Australian Greens leader Bob Brown said the report showed millions of green jobs could be created - and they would be good jobs too.

"These are going to be jobs which people are going to enjoy," he said.

Workers would feel good about their new green jobs and about helping to save the planet.

The green jobs would be better for workers' health, their incomes, and their "spirit."

However, federal and state governments would have to develop strategies to help create green jobs, Senator Brown said.
Source: AAP