In my interactions with numerous sustainability managers in various companies, I have observed a surprising duality: on the one hand, the palpable excitement for ongoing sustainable projects and their potential to generate benefits and positive impacts; on the other hand, the frustration in finding a lack of understanding and support for these initiatives from others within the organization. This discrepancy prevents agile progress towards a sustainable transformation of the company.
It is crucial to close the skills and knowledge gap in sustainability in companies to move from words to action. We are facing a paradox that needs to be addressed quickly: while companies increasingly recognize the importance of integrating sustainability into their strategy, only two out of every ten people in the company have basic sustainability knowledge. More than 3,900 companies have made greenhouse gas reduction commitments and more than a third of the world's largest listed companies have announced net zero emissions goals in the coming years. But who is going to make this transformation? At the heart of this transformation are the workers who design, drive, and oversee progress towards sustainability goals, not only within specialized functions, but also in other positions that incorporate a holistic vision of operations and business strategy.
This transition opens a world of opportunities of enormous dimensions. The ILO estimates that 18 million net jobs will be created by 2030 in response to the Paris Agreement commitments. New emerging fields of work are opening up, such as carbon accounting, life cycle analysis, ecosystem assessment and management, systems design, climate and social risk assessment, equality, diversity and inclusion management, or sustainable purchasing. According to the LinkedIn Global "Green Skills" report, the demand for green jobs grew at a rate of 8% between 2015 and 2022, while the talent supply only increased by 6%.
Faced with this situation, companies must take proactive measures to train their teams in sustainability. Not only will it facilitate the execution and development of the company's own sustainability plans, but it is a great opportunity to motivate talent: 70% of employees express a favorable desire to receive training in sustainability and climate action. The gap is further widened by the fact that only 31% of 15-year-old students in OECD countries have basic skills in environmental sustainability. This also indicates an urgent need for educational reform to prepare future generations for the challenges ahead.
Training in sustainability is no longer an option, but a necessity for economic resilience and the company's adaptability to its socioeconomic context. As the demand for sustainability skills continues to grow, companies must proactively respond to this challenge, offering their workers the knowledge and tools necessary to drive sustainable progress. Because all change always starts with us.
References:
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