How to work in the green economy? Guide for young people, job seekers and those who support them
When choosing professional future, many young people, sensitive to planetary issues, would like their future job to be consistent with their convictions and help to bend the carbon curve. However, for non-specialists, the green economy is still very vague. Which careers to go to? What skills to acquire? This guide aims to provide them with answers.
As early as 1990, the first report of the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) alerted us on the harmful effect of human activity on climate change and global warming. 32 years later, these predictions are confirmed, and our lives are impacted. Natural disasters follow one another, destroying lives, businesses, jobs and pushing people to migrate.
Aware of the risks, the international community has organized and mobilized to fight against climate change and try to contain average global warming notably. The Paris climate agreement was adopted in December 2015. The same year, world leaders, adopted the 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. Goal 8 aims to promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment, and decent work for all. The promotion of green jobs is at the heart of this objective.
The transition to the green economy will inevitably involve destruction of some jobs, but in the same time, the creation of new ones. The ILO estimate that about 100 million new jobs can potentially be created by 2030, leading to a net job creation of 25 million jobs.
It is therefore essential to prepare for it by supporting professional transitions.
Many young people, aware of climate issues, wish to contribute to the necessary transformation of our economies by moving towards green professions. However, they often lack knowledge on the green economy.
The objective of this guide is to provide young people, job seekers and those who support them with useful information to build their professional goals plan, either as an employee of the green economy, or by creating their own job in a sustainable entrepreneurship approach.
