IEMA’s campaign for green skills commitment at COP28 gains support

More than 40 organisations and businesses have backed IEMA’s campaign to get green skills and training on the agenda at COP28, including Nestle UK, the British Chambers of Commerce, and OVO Energy.

The coalition has written to the UK’s net zero minister and COP28 representative, Graham Stuart, asking him to push for green skills and jobs to be included in the final cover text agreement at the climate summit.

Specifically, the group is calling for Paris Agreement signatories to include a detailed education and skills investment and development roadmap as part of their nationally determined contributions to the UNFCCC.

This would help deliver the "global step-change in training" that is required to combat climate change effectively, according to IEMA.

CEO, Sarah Mukherjee MBE, said: “IEMA is sending a strong message to government, along with colleagues from a wide range of organisations and businesses, that we need to start addressing the skills gaps to adapt to the real climate emergency.

“We’re delighted to be supported by so many organisations who recognise, like we do, the great need for a green-skilled workforce both domestically and internationally.”

Millions of green jobs will need to be created if the world is to transition to a cleaner economy, and workers will need to receive the right skills and training to carry out these jobs.

IEMA launched its campaign to get green skills on the cover text at COP28 earlier this year, and have met with various stakeholders to gain support, including at the Bonn Climate Change Conference in June.

It defines ‘green skills’ as the knowledge, behaviours, capabilities, and technical skills required to tackle the environmental challenges facing the world, and to unlock new opportunities for economic growth.

IEMA has also recently launched its Green Careers Hub, providing businesses and individuals with all the information they need on green skills and potential career pathways.

Writing in a blog earlier this year, Mukherjee said that there is often a lack of clarity that "amounts to magical thinking", when it comes to delivering the green skills and jobs that are needed to reach net zero.

She continued: "This shift simply will not happen quickly enough unless we equip the global workforce with the skills and training necessary for it to happen. A clear declaration of intent at COP28 would be a great way to start."

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