South Africa has spent R70-billion on the arms deal, R40.3-billion on the 2010 World Cup, and committed R1.5-trillion to future electricity production. But the government will not finance climate jobs, heard delegates at the One Million Climate Jobs conference yesterday.

Trade unions, social movements and environmental organisations met to discuss an alliance to campaign for the creation of 1million jobs which they believe will address the country's unemployment crisis and curb climate change.

Under the banner One Million Climate jobs, the alliance demands that the government release funds to create jobs as it works towards a greener economy.

Said the alliance: "One million climate jobs would cost R92-billion and our research shows that there is more than R250-billion available annually to finance climate jobs.

"There is also at least R200-billion available to kick-start investment in renewable energy and other climate-friendly development.

"It is clear that South Africa has money. The challenge is to channel this money into providing for our most pressing needs and to withstand the pressure from the minerals and energy complex and international lobby to expand electricity production with no regard to climate change, human wellbeing, environmental risks or resource depletion."

The alliance proposed that the country moves towards renewable energy, which it estimates would create more than 150000 jobs.

More than 700000 jobs would be created if the country's transport system goes green with the expansion of the rail passenger and general freight network, upgrade of existing fleets to become more energy efficient, construction of bus rapid transit lanes, manufacture of bicycles and the construction of cycle lanes, green spaces and safe pedestrian walkways.

The alliance wants government to provide "energy-efficient, good-quality" low- cost housing, which it estimates will create at least 250000 jobs.

Jane Barrett of the SA Transport and Allied Workers' Union said at least 40% of South Africans were jobless.

Nnimmo Bassey of Friends of the Earth International urged the alliance to put pressure on "do-nothing politicians" attending the COP17 conference in Durban to work towards creating jobs throughout the world.