The Green transition
Climate change, environmental degradation and loss of biodiversity caused by human activity are among the biggest global challenges of the 21st century. The COVID-19 crisis has accelerated the process. In common with other countries around the world, the European Union has decided to seize this opportunity to make environmental sustainability an integral part of its post-COVID recovery plan building on the EU Green Deal. The drive towards clean, carbon neutral, circular economies and societies also shapes EU external assistance to the countries of the neighbourhood.
The green transition accentuates the need for education and training systems to transition towards lifelong learning. Some jobs will disappear, and others will be created – not necessarily in the same sectors or the same geographical locations – and many more will be transformed. Environmental awareness will become a requirement of all jobs, and indeed an aspect of 21st century citizenship. New mindsets and new skills will be needed not only for people entering the labour market, but people of all ages and stages in life. This requires close interaction between education and training systems and their environments to build skills ecosystems in which skills development goes hand in hand with economic, technological and social change.
What ETF does on greening
ETF seeks to systematically assess how all its Partner Countries utilise their educational and training systems to drive their shift towards cleaner and greener economies in order to be able to guide and advise on the necessary reforms and the corresponding aid. While knowledge on the progress of countries on Educational Sustainable Development and related educational approaches has been increasing, there is still a great need for more in depth understanding of the extent as to which countries address sustainability issues in education. For this reason, a pilot study was conducted in 2021 in eight countries (Serbia, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Algeria, Ukraine, Morocco, Georgia, North Macedonia). In 2022, ETF will continue to map sustainability policies and initiatives focusing on skills for the green transition.
In 2021, ETF has further launched the Green Skills Award for best practices in teaching and learning of green skills.
Resources
What are the green jobs? | Open Space (europa.eu)
What about green skills? | Open Space (europa.eu)
Green skills for the labour market | Open Space (europa.eu)
Why gender matters for skills and green transition? | Open Space (europa.eu)
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