COP28 results make green skills essential for business

Workers around the world need expertise and resources to advance the fossil fuel-free agenda.

Henry White is the co-founder and CEO of. ×Unlockedprofessional learning and development organizations, and BPP Partner.

The global outcome of COP28 in December was the decision to move away from fossil fuels, use renewable energy and move towards energy efficient operational means. As a result, regulations around climate-related policies and reporting are expected to become even more stringent, and businesses will need to have the right knowledge and systems in place to stay ahead. In just a few weeks, green skills within organizations have gone from being a nice-to-have to a business-critical necessity.

Add to this the fact that 2023 will officially become the hottest year on record, and the deepening climate crisis means there is an urgent need for a workforce with green skills. In the UK and around the world, workers need expertise and resources to drive the fossil fuel-free agenda.

There are a number of reports outlining how the green skills gap is slowing progress on sustainability goals. PwC’s Green Jobs Barometer series says: “The UK financial services sector faces a major green skills gap and is not moving fast enough to close it.”

Meanwhile, 63% of respondents in a Bain & Company survey said that achieving ESG goals will require different skills and behaviors for employers.

LinkedIn’s Global Green Skills Report 2023 also found that the demand for green skills will soon outstrip supply, with the number of green jobs expected to increase by more than 15% year-on-year in 2023.

The new global challenge of phasing out fossil fuels will further accelerate the need for green skills. However, the challenge for businesses is that developing green skills has not traditionally been a key priority for organizations. There is also a general lack of supply of potential employees with essential skills to help businesses transition, making it even more difficult to hire the right talent.

Therefore, employers need to start developing green skills At the inner Empower your existing workforce by equipping them with the tools and knowledge to meet the current and future sustainability needs of your business. This can be achieved by developing talent instead of buying them. This is a strategy that business leaders have traditionally adopted in search of technical and digital skills that are in short supply in the labor market.

Identifying green skills requirements

As the term suggests, “green skills” are widely considered as technical skills and knowledge directly related to the transition to a low-carbon economy, which is fundamental to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals .

However, from a training perspective, the term green skill improvement includes a wide variety of skills, so there is still no industry-wide consensus on how to achieve green skill improvement. The green skills needed to work in sectors such as energy production and utilities, transportation and finance can vary widely and may require specialized training.

In the current climate change debate, the term ‘green skills’ will continue to evolve and encompass a wide range of factors and requirements. Correspondingly, training can be used to explain how a company provides its products and services (e.g. an energy company that can use renewable resources instead of fossil fuels) and/or how a company operates and It should be related to how you are strategizing for the future (e.g. corporate sustainability, carbon accounting, etc.). ).

The key to building an effective green skills strategy is to find the best way to help your organization make progress towards its goals, whether it’s achieving net zero targets, integrating climate action into policy, or contributing to climate change. It’s about taking the time to identify a combination of skills. Transition of justice.

Sustainability fundamentals for all workers

Companies will prioritize providing green jobs and the necessary training to people from all backgrounds to expand the talent pool and recruit staff with a wider range of experience to foster a green economy is needed. Professional learning and development designed to build a solid foundation in sustainability and develop necessary industry-specific skills, especially for current employees in industries such as law, finance, digital and technology, and management. is the key to bringing about this transformation.

Organizations can make better decisions when everyone has a better understanding of sustainability, whether or not their work is directly considered “green.” This will be the time when companies can truly transform for the benefit of the environment.

In order to create a broader pipeline of early green talent, the government will introduce other green training routes (apprenticeships, apprenticeships, , internships, skills boot camps, etc.) also need to be reviewed and strengthened. The confidence and skills needed to transition into an entry-level role.

For small and medium-sized employers in particular, partnering with a professional training provider can help you gain insight into the skills you need and design a customized and effective program to upskill. This can be a valuable method.

Furthermore, there is scope for strong collaboration between local authorities, industry representatives, education providers, employers and governments to create clear ‘green skills’ pathways for both current professionals and young people. there is.

From a business perspective, demonstrating a commitment to providing employees with the tools they need to navigate the evolving sustainability landscape also helps with talent attraction and retention. It’s time to start shaping the workforce for a greener tomorrow.