A report by the International Labor Organization and the U.N. Environment Program said moving to a greener economy could move millions of workers out of poverty.
ILO Director General Juan Somavia said those gains come will only come through the right set of policies that embrace a transition to a sustainable development model.
The report stated that at least half of the global workforce -- about 1.5 billion people -- would be affected by the economic transition.
"The findings underline that it can include millions more people in terms of overcoming poverty and delivering improved livelihoods for this and future generations," UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner said in a statement.
The report said major economies like the United States employ about 3 million people in environmental goods and services.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said this week that the United States invested more than $90 billion in green energy development and more than doubled the installed capacity of wind and solar power in the last four years.