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Green Skills, Green Jobs: Opportunities for the South West Low Carbon

Economy

Jo PyeSenior Researcher

Skills and Learning Intelligence Module (SLIM)Marchmont Observatory

University of Exeter

Graduate School of Education

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Benefits of a Green Economy

As stated by ARUP in a report commissioned by the South West Regional Development Agency:

“there are compelling reasons and drivers for a green economic recovery. Confronting the mounting energy and climate change crises represents an extraordinary opportunity to reinvigorate the economy through investment in clean, sustainable, low carbon initiatives.”

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Drivers towards Green Skillsand Jobs Legislation and standards to reduce carbon emissions (eg

environmental audit requirements such as BREEAM) Public sector investment into, and promotion of, more

sustainable technologies, material and ways of living Organisations adopting environmental policies Potential market opportunities afforded by renewable

energy Much recent activity in government departments, industry

bodies, skills advisors, researchers, environmental agencies and special interest groups

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What are Green Jobs?“work in agricultural, manufacturing, research and development, administrative, and service activities that contribute substantially to preserving environmental quality … jobs that help to protect ecosystems and biodiversity; reduce energy, materials, and waterconsumption through high efficiency strategies; de carbonize the ‐economy; and minimize … generation of all forms of waste and pollution.”

- United Nations Environment ProgrammeBut others say …“there is no accepted definition of what 'green jobs' actually are. The term has variously been used to refer to jobs in environmental services, new renewable energy plant and other low carbon energy sources, production of low carbon or environmentally friendly products, installation ‐ of energy efficiency measures, environmental consulting and low carbon finance … there is no single, generic 'green' skillset.”

- Institute for Public Policy Research (ippr): Evidence to House of Commons Environmental Audit

Inquiry

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Selected national policy paperson green skills and employment

Stern Review: the Economics of Climate Change. 2006. Building a low carbon economy: the UK’s contribution ‐

to tackling climate change. 2008. Building a low carbon economy: Unlocking innovation ‐

and skills. Defra response to CEMEP. 2008. BERR. Building Britain’s Future: new industries, new jobs.

2009. BERR/DECC/DIUS. Investing in a low carbon Britain. 2009. BIS. The Future of EU Competitiveness: from economic

recovery to sustainable growth. 2009. DECC. Strategy for climate and energy. 2009. DECC. Renewable energy strategy. 2009.

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The UK Low Carbon IndustrialStrategy

Low Carbon and Environmental Goods and Services (LCEGS) sector - three key areas of economic activity:

Environmental sector, including energy, carbon and broader environmental consultancy, air pollution control, environmental monitoring and management, marine pollution control, waste management, recovery, recycling.

Renewable energy sector, including wind, wave and tidal, biomass, geothermal, hydro and photovoltaic energy generation and renewables consultancy.

Emerging low carbon sector, including alternative fuels such as nuclear, and alternative fuels for vehicles, carbon capture and storage, building technologies, energy management and carbon finance.

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Key industry sectors to drivelow carbon innovation

Carbon capture and storage Offshore wind generation Marine energy Nuclear energy Low carbon vehiclesOther significant growth predicted in:

Renewable sources: solar, biomass, hydrogen, geothermal, hydrogen and fuel cellsEfficient processes: waste management, recovery and recyclingBusiness sectors: carbon finance, other environmental industries

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What are Green Skills?

The Institute for Employment Studies defines these as the following:energy efficiency jobs in existing production sectorshigher level skills in energy efficient industrial process designnew skills for advanced energy technologies.

Pro Enviro for Defra identified a ‘latent demand’ for Low Carbon and Resource Efficient Economy Skills (LCREE):

“demand is not currently being articulated by employers and as a result the current skills delivery framework is ill equipped to anticipate and respond. Organisations do not have the right levels of understanding of the skills requirements and implications … and consequently of the importance and potential benefits of integration of LCREE skills into their businesses. “

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What are Green Skills?

Pro Enviro green skills checklist:Design skills: eco-design, green manufacturing and materialsWaste skills: monitoring, process, management, minimisationEnergy skills: management, trading, renewables, optimisationWater skills: management, re-use and monitoringBuilding skills: energy management, energy efficient construction,

efficiency and carbon ratingsTransport skills: impact minimisation and managementMaterials skills: sourcing, procurement and managementFinancial skills: investment, principles and toolsManagement: business planning, awareness and assessmentPolicy and planning: strategy development and implementation

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South West England: the firstUK Low Carbon Economic Area

The South West LCEA will develop low carbon economic opportunities in marine energy through:the creation of new demonstration facilities for wave and tidal power (eg the Wave Hub project in Cornwall); investment in world class academic and research strengths (eg the PRIMarE marine research institute); a new network of science parks and businesses; a new port infrastructure;and the creation of an industry forum based in the region.

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South West Regional Economic Task Group priorities

‘Green recovery’ should be achieved through a broader response to the recession and a contribution to the low carbon economy:

domestic energy efficiency,

business resource efficiency advice,

financial support for marine technologies,

and the potential of new nuclear energy.

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SLIM Workshop: Tess Gill, Sustainable Development Commission

Skills for sustainable development include:Generic and core STEM skillsLeadership and managementSustainable procurementEnvironmental and risk managementEnergy and resource management

Skills development needs to build on existing skills, not starting from scratch

All stakeholders should be involved, with the onus not just on employers and SSCs. Language is important: ‘resource efficiency’ means more than ‘low carbon’ to employers

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SLIM Workshop Findings:What skills and jobs will be needed?

Retraining the existing workforce - skills for three groups: managers, specialists and general staffGreen skills should be incorporated into job descriptions as:

Visioning and leadership skills - diagnostic skills, strategic and financial planning, carbon accounting

Communication and people skills: negotiation and engagement STEM skills: filling existing gaps; both generic and for specific

technologies General sustainability skills; environmentally responsible

practice throughout the workforce

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SLIM Workshop Findings:Issues for employers

Target skills needs to each organisation and its operating environment. Define good practice in green skills, to enable employers to identify staff skills gapsCommunication and language are important: be clear about carbon from a business perspectiveGreen skills must be made relevant and attractive to SMEs, for business and/or financial advantageUse supply chain and business mentoring as mechanismsPublic sector should ‘share the risk’ and lead with investment in low carbon literacy and procurement. Government and others should drive consumer demand

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SLIM Workshop Findings:Cultural issues

Three poles: legislation, market pressures and public supportAvailability of information, advice and guidance is keyIntermediaries are able to promote delivery and incorporate existing skillsets like leadership and management. Green champions should be used, such as green union repsThe drive for change needs to make full use of early adopters, exemplars and advocatesRaising demand for green skills necessitates changing minds – closing the gap between acceptance of environmental issues and recognition of the real situation.

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SLIM Workshop Findings:How to initiate green jobs?

ESF, regional strategies, links to regional and mainstream fundingSupport partnership development, the supply chain and employer collaboration, which could be used to develop alternative business models:

leasing instead of buying; sharing capacity and resources; repairing rather than replacing equipment.

Public sector leadership through policy clarity and spreading the risk of investmentTransformational issues/thinking for employersLink funding to collaborative work and local / regional impact on priorities.

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SLIM Workshop Findings:Delivering green skills

Improve linkages with existing funding and projects to highlight current good practice: Convergence/Competitiveness Build on LESBs and other existing partnershipsRequire employer input for curriculum design and delivery eg via SSC kitemarks; opportunities through Sector Skills AcademiesEngage employers through clusters and supply change and organisations like FSB / ChambersJoin up accredited training for renewable energy technologiesShare theoretical and practical expertise between higher and further education experts, drawing on successful business models and mechanisms for disseminationAlign academic and professional qualifications and ensure industry accredited courses can be delivered.

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Further reading DECC: Investing in a Low Carbon Britainhttp://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/news/090423_low_car/090423_low_car.aspx

LSC: Skills for a Sustainable Low Carbon and Resource Efficient Economyhttp://readingroom.lsc.gov.uk/lsc/National/Skills_for_Sustainable_Economy.pdf

How to Green your workplace, a TUC Guide http://www.unison.org.uk/acrobat/G201207.pdf

The UK Low Carbon Transition Plan: National Strategy for Climate and Energyhttp://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/publications/lc_trans_plan/lc_trans_plan.aspx

New Industry, New Jobs. http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file51023.pdf Green Jobs: Towards decent work in a sustainable, low carbon world. ‐

http://www.unep.org/labour_environment/PDFs/Greenjobs/UNEP-Green-Jobs-Report.pdf) The UK Renewable Energy Strategy.

http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/publications/lc_trans_plan/lc_trans_plan.aspx

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Skills and Learning Intelligence Module

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