With a little more than a month until the launch of the 2024 United Nations Biodiversity Conference of the Parties (COP16) in Colombia, IEMA has launched a targeted campaign aimed at addressing a critical gap in the global response to the climate and biodiversity breakdowns – a focus on, and plan for, green skills.
IEMA’s #GreenSkillsAtCOP campaign, supported by a broad coalition of businesses, not-for-profit organisations and individuals, is urging global leaders at the COP16 summit, and the subsequent COP29 Climate Change summit, to prioritise the development of green skills, without which the transition to net zero and a resilient planet will be unachievable.
In partnership with Content With Purpose (CWP), the campaign underscores that without the right education, skills, and training, the implementation of national action plans to reverse nature loss and reduce carbon emissions will fall short.
Tonight, IEMA CEO Sarah Mukherjee is attending an event hosted by the Ambassador of the Republic of Colombia (Vamos a Colombia: On the road to Cali 2024) in London to mark the South American country’s imminent hosting of the COP16 Biodiversity Summit in Cali (from 21 October to 1 November 2024). This vital conference ends just 10 days before Azerbaijan welcomes global leaders to the COP29 Climate Change Summit in Baku .
Sarah Mukherjee MBE, CEO of IEMA said: “Climate change and the global loss of biodiversity are twin crises that are intrinsically linked and urgently need to be tackled together.
“At the upcoming COP16 biodiversity summit in Colombia and the COP29 climate summit in Azerbaijan, countries are going to be asked to develop or update their national action plans.
“These plans set out how countries will deliver positive outcomes for nature and climate; including setting targets, developing policies, and allocating funding.
“Yet a commitment to green skills has so far been conspicuous by its absence.
“We are advocating that a vital aspect in delivering these action plans is investing in and developing the right education, skills and training to ensure every countries workforce can deliver on their biodiversity and climate targets.
“By partnering with CWP, we’re able to broaden our reach and impact, ensuring that this vital issue receives the attention it deserves at these critical summits.”
The collaboration between IEMA and CWP will amplify the campaign’s reach through a diverse array of content, including a series of call-to-action videos from leading figures in nature, biodiversity and sustainable business, alongside real-world case studies. This content will spotlight the crucial role of workforce development in achieving sustainability goals.
This is not a one-year campaign.
In 2023, IEMA began its advocacy on the importance of education, skills, and jobs at the COP28 climate summit. Now, with the support of CWP, IEMA is intensifying its efforts ahead of COP16 and COP29. The organisations will be addressing the COP presidents, urging them to endorse and advance the #GreenSkillsAtCOP agenda.
The campaign, supported by prominent organisations such as The Wildlife Trusts, SUEZ, RSPB, Woodland Trust, Techbuyer, Medtronic, OVO Energy, and many others, calls for COP16 and COP29 to require countries to develop and update national action plans with clear targets, robust policies, and significant investment in workforce strategies. Recognising the interconnected nature of the biodiversity and climate crises, the campaign also advocates for a just transition, ensuring that workers and sectors affected by the shift to sustainability receive the support they need.
Max Smith, Founder & Managing Director of CWP, commented: “The #GreenSkillsAtCOP campaign is about more than just meeting targets. It’s about equipping the global workforce with the skills needed to drive meaningful change. As the climate and biodiversity crises escalate, we’re proud to partner with IEMA to push for the integration of green skills, ensuring that nations are prepared to implement their commitments effectively.”
IEMA and CWP are committed to driving this campaign forward, rallying global support, and urging global leaders to take action. The goal is to see tangible agreements at COP16 and COP29 that embed green skills into national plans, paving the way for a sustainable future.
For more information and to support the #GreenSkillsAtCOP campaign, visit: greenskillsatcop.iema.net