Green skills

Why are green skills important?

“Green skills” is more than a buzz phrase. Green skills are, for starters, skills you need in order to work in green jobs (conservation, renewables, etc.). But these skills are not important only for environmental or green jobs; they are increasingly important across all industries!

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Green skills are becoming very valuable in finance, manufacturing, IT, construction, marketing, and more. They are becoming important in industries where sustainability and green energy transmission are an integral part of everyday work.

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Globally, industries are transitioning towards more environmentally sustainable production. This transition is also part of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (affordable and clean energy, sustainable cities and communities, and responsible production).

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Employers need employees with green skills, and these skills, especially for young people, add to their employability. Learn more about employability skills.

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But what exactly are green skills?

What are green skills?

Green skills are skills needed to support the transition to sustainability, a future where our systems work with nature.

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Green skills can be defined as the skills needed by the workforce, in all sectors and at all levels, in order to help the adaptation of the products, services and processes to the changes due to climate change and to environmental requirements and regulations. (source: UNESCO resources)

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There is no universally agreed list of green skills, but here are the top ones.

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Two groups of green skills

• Hard skills

Technical skills. Know how to use green technologies and processes.

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• Transversal skills

Knowledge, values and attitudes that help take pro-environmental decisions at work and home.

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Green Skills in Jobs Examples

• Farmers (working on low-carbon agriculture)

• Environmental engineers (waste treatment)

• Renewable energy engineers (wind, solar and hydro power)

• Architects who design energy-efficient buildings or use renewable materials

• Wildlife protection jobs

• Jobs in the railway or bicycle industries

• Climate education (teachers in schools)

Green skills list

Connection with nature

• Embracing that we depend on the rest of nature, rather than separating us from nature.
• Helping others around us to better connect with our living world.

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Understanding science

• Using basic scientific methods to help us understand the world
• Understanding the climate and nature emergency (biology, statistics, physics)

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Hard skills

Specific expertise in the hard skills necessary to enable a regenerative future.

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Long-term thinking

• Thinking long-term about your future, but also the future of future generations. 
• Thinking about your children, grandchildren, when making decisions. 

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Creativity and adaptability

• The ability to reinvent how things have always been done. 
• To prepare for uncertainty, when circumstances demand it.

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Monitoring skills

• Understanding monitoring tools, reading reports 
• Monitoring greenhouse gas emissions, wildlife.

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Basic skills in case of events

• Knowing how to provide the essentials of life
• Know how to make food, shelter, and community.

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Information literacy

• Knowing how to question information and fact-check.

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Learn more at: What are green skills? 15 green skills, clearly explained.

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