The climate crisis, accelerated international regulatory progress and growing consumer and investor demands are putting sustainability-related positions in focus as key skills are required in future jobs. However, there is a significant gap between the available academic vocational training and the growing demand for these skills.
Fuente: The Carbon Sink
BUENOS AIRES (4/8/2024).- Globally, so-called “green jobs” are experiencing accelerated growth. This increase is reflected in diverse areas such as environmental management, energy efficiency, renewable energy, recycling and corporate sustainability. Although the transition to a green economy presents unprecedented challenges, it also offers a unique opportunity to acquire new skills and obtain new job opportunities.
According to the World Economic Forum, green jobs in the United States are expected to expand to nearly 24 million, representing 14% of the total workforce, by 2030.
Since President Joe Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act into law in August 2022, more than 100,000 jobs have been created in the renewable energy sector across the country.
On the other hand, the European Union, with its drive to improve energy efficiency in buildings and reduce fossil fuel consumption, could create 160,000 jobs in the energy and heating sector by 2030.
In Latin America, this trend is also beginning to be replicated. The recent labor reform in Colombia included key points to promote green jobs in the country.
In Argentina, the National Green Employment Program was created just over a year ago. It brings together representatives from various government agencies, the employer sector, unions, academia and various sectoral chambers with the aim of promoting the growth of green employment in the country and promoting economic activities that are more careful in the use of natural resources and environmental impact.
“In an increasingly sustainability-conscious world, green jobs represent an unparalleled opportunity to redefine the future of work. However, the shortage of skills and knowledge on these topics raises the question of who will fill these positions. It is crucial that executive leaders educate themselves and adapt to these new demands to capitalize on the opportunities and ensure sustainable and equitable development,” he comments. Federico Falcon, CEO of The Carbon Sink, a consultancy specialising in corporate carbon footprint management.
Federico’s view on this issue is in line with the recent publication “Green Skills Report” by Economist Impact, the think tank of The Economist Group, which states that the transition towards a green economy is at risk due to the lack of development and acquisition of skills.
Research indicates that the transition will require everyone to acquire sustainability-related skills, not just those working in explicitly “green” roles.
And while nearly 80% of business leaders surveyed believe that incorporating these skills and knowledge is the most important driver for the transition, only 55% confirmed that their companies are implementing or planning to implement training programs on these topics for their workforce.
Federico Falcón adds: “At The Carbon Sink, we also created a workshop on climate action and carbon footprint, to respond to the growing demand from companies for their employees to acquire skills and knowledge related to these issues. In less than three years, we have organized nearly 20 training sessions in companies and organizations of various sizes, with the main objective of providing company teams and suppliers with the necessary tools to align themselves with the company’s commitment to carbon neutrality and thus strengthen their contribution to climate action.”
Marian Ventura, from strategic consultancy done!, adds: “As a consultant, I see first-hand the exponential increase in demand for ESG (environmental, social and governance) skills in organisations. At the same time, I witness the knowledge gap on these aspects at the highest levels of decision-making and how training programmes aimed at this audience do not incorporate this perspective. This not only represents a wasted opportunity in terms of professional development, but also compromises the well-understood sustainability of a business and its long-term viability. That is why, at done! we incorporated a specific training proposal on ESG topics (for its acronym in English) based on our experience, and the response was extremely positive. There is a great hunger for training in these skills for the future.”
Along the same lines, the CEMA University joined the El Núcleo organization to launch educational programs on sustainability, triple impact and circular economy, and to incorporate subjects on these topics within the MBA program offered by the university.
This alliance seeks to train future professionals with a comprehensive vision of sustainability, preparing them to face environmental challenges and contribute to more responsible development. “UCEMA and Núcleo recently held an event to strengthen the network of professionals linked to sustainability.
In line with the objective of the meeting, The Carbon Sink supports both institutions in measuring the greenhouse gas emissions generated by this event. We then offset them through carbon credits from the “Corredor de los Cedros” project for the conservation of forests in the Yungas of Jujuy,” concludes Federico.
The future of work is inevitably linked to sustainability. Demand for green jobs and environmentally-related skills will continue to grow, driven by regulations, market needs and a growing global awareness of the importance of caring for our planet. To be prepared, it is crucial to implement training programs that equip professionals with the necessary tools to lead this change.
2024-08-04 16:37:55