The project partners of No One Behind! are currectly creating the content of the training paltform. Interviews with employers and workers in the green sector will be part of the content offered to our future users, and Inforef has been busy lately. Last week, we put on our boots and headed to the fields of Le Jardin Vivifiant, an urban farm where customers do their own harvesting. This week, we visisted La Ressourcerie, a company that collects and repairs discarded furniture and objects to sell them in one of their second hand stores. Organic farming and recycling/upcycling will be the two sectors addressed in the Belgian section of the platform.

Europe is undergoing a significant transformation driven by the urgent need for green and digital advancements. As Thierry Breton, the European Commissioner for the Internal Market, noted, this rapid change is unprecedented in history and requires an extensive overhaul of industries employing millions of workers. At the inaugural Pact for Skills Forum in Brussels, the emphasis was placed on a skills revolution as a critical component of this transition.

New digital skills are essential for the green transition, which simultaneously propels the development of new technologies. This dual shift necessitates collaboration between the public and private sectors to upskill and reskill the workforce. Paul Guest, the forum's moderator, highlighted that the strategic decisions guiding Europe's future—particularly in green and digital domains—are shaping the skills required.

The European Commission has initiated several programs, such as the European Training Foundation's focus on building skills for the green economy. The Pact for Skills, a key component of the European Skills Agenda, supports these efforts, aiming to upskill and reskill workers across the continent.

Commissioners Thierry Breton and Nicolas Schmit stressed the urgency of this endeavor, citing Europe's ambitious goal of achieving zero carbon emissions by 2050 and the rapid adoption of technologies like artificial intelligence. The continent faces a significant skills shortage, with 70% of companies reporting difficulties in finding appropriately skilled workers.

To address these challenges, the European Commission categorized the continent's industrial capacity into 14 ecosystems, encouraging stakeholders from various sectors to collaborate on skills development. This collaborative model has already retrained five million people, with a target of 25 million by 2030.

A crucial aspect of this transformation involves promoting STEM fields and encouraging diverse participation, including women and youth, in these areas. Additionally, there is a need to attract skilled migrants to Europe, a point emphasized by Breton and Schmit as essential for maintaining competitiveness and innovation.

The European Training Foundation is also working to address the skills dimension of migration, facilitating partnerships with countries like Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia. This holistic approach aims to create mutually beneficial outcomes for migrants, their countries of origin, and Europe.

In conclusion, Europe's green and digital transitions demand a comprehensive skills revolution, engaging all sectors and leveraging both internal and external talent. This collective effort is crucial for ensuring that Europe remains a competitive and innovative global player. 

For more detailed information, please access the article here

Patricia Urban and her colleagues' 2023 report, "Jobs for the Green Transition," delves deeply into green jobs, or those that benefit the environment. They describe how the COVID-19 pandemic and other world crises are making these jobs more crucial. We believe the report gives a well structured discussion of green jobs and the context of the green transition, together with policy examples. We summarize their conclusions and ideas here, and you can access the full report here.

Getting to Know Green Jobs

The report stresses how important green jobs are for moving the economy toward activities that are better for the environment. Green jobs are different because they require non-standard cognitive abilities, more formal education, and a lot of training on the job. Because of this, we need to know more about which jobs might be affected by or help with the greening processes. Even though international organizations and academics have come up with different definitions, there is still no single way to classify and measure these jobs.

A Different Way to Classify Green Jobs

The researchers suggest a new way to look at green jobs that considers everything from the company’s impact on the environment to the kind of tasks each worker does. They also want to start looking at the environmental impact of the materials used in these jobs. However, they find it hard to gather all the needed information and to keep up with how fast the job market changes.

The Role of Digital Jobs

Digital jobs, or jobs related to technology, are also highlighted as important for supporting green jobs. As technology progresses, it can help make other industries greener and more sustainable. This area needs more exploration to better understand how technology and green jobs can work together.

Implications for policy and social issues

On the policy front, there is a noticeable emphasis on developing sector-specific skills to foster green jobs. But this way of thinking might make it harder to understand how the green transition will affect things in a bigger picture. The report wants assessments to be more thorough and look at both direct and indirect effects on workers across all industries. Also, social factors need to be taken into account right away to make sure that the switch to a green economy is fair for everyone and doesn't hurt vulnerable groups more than others.

To harness the full potential of green jobs, the following strategies are recommended:

1. Developing an Integrated Framework: Establish a comprehensive classification system that includes all aspects of green jobs, from environmental impacts to social equity.

2. Enhancing Data Collection and Measurement:Improve the availability and granularity of data related to material inputs and green job metrics to refine the taxonomy and make it more actionable.

3. Bridging Digital and Green Divides: Explore the intersections between digital technology and green jobs to foster sectors that are both innovative and sustainable.

4. Fostering Sector-Wide and Inter-Sectoral Training: Expand re- and upskilling programs beyond sector-specific boundaries to prepare a workforce capable of adapting to diverse environmental challenges.

5.Prioritizing Social Justice: Integrate social policies that prevent the marginalization of vulnerable workers and ensure equitable benefits from the green transition.

INFOREF participated in the inaugural evening of the REAL LAB, Research in Economics and Law Laboratory, at the Higher Education Institution HELMo. Topic of the conference: "The social economy, driver of social and ecological transition", delivered by the advisor of the rector of the University of Liège for green and social transition. During the walking dinner, two representatives of INFOREF had the opportunity to meet participants interested in the No on behind project. Some of them could become associated partners in the project.

The green transition is a global phenomenon that is reshaping the economy and the workforce. As countries and businesses move towards a more sustainable future, there is a growing demand for green jobs.

Green jobs are defined as jobs that contribute to the protection of the environment or the promotion of sustainable development. They can be found in a wide range of sectors, including energy, transportation, construction, agriculture, and manufacturing.

According to a recent study by the International Labour Organization, the global green economy is expected to create 24 million new jobs by 2030. The study also found that green jobs are more likely to be good quality jobs, with higher wages and better working conditions.

Some of the most in-demand green jobs include:

• Energy workers: These workers are involved in the production, distribution, and use of renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, and hydropower.

• Transportation workers: These workers are involved in the development and deployment of new, more sustainable transportation technologies, such as electric vehicles and public transportation.

• Construction workers: These workers are involved in the construction of green buildings and infrastructure.

• Agriculture workers: These workers are involved in sustainable farming practices, such as organic farming and regenerative agriculture.

• Manufacturing workers: These workers are involved in the production of sustainable products, such as energy-efficient appliances and recycled materials.

In addition to these traditional green jobs, there are also a number of emerging green jobs that are becoming increasingly important. These include:

• Environmental scientists and engineers: These workers are involved in research and development of new technologies and solutions to environmental problems.

• Sustainability managers: These workers are responsible for implementing sustainability initiatives in businesses and organizations.

• Green marketing and communications professionals: These workers are responsible for promoting sustainable products and services.

The green transition is creating new opportunities for workers in a wide range of sectors. As the demand for green jobs continues to grow, workers with the right skills and training will be in high demand.

Here are some tips for getting a green job:

• Get the right education and training: There are a number of educational programs available that can help you develop the skills you need for a green job.

• Network with people in the green economy: Attend industry events, join professional organizations, and connect with people on social media.

• Be proactive: Don't wait for opportunities to come to you. Reach out to businesses and organizations that are looking for green talent.

The green transition is a positive force for change that is creating new opportunities for workers around the world. By getting the right education and training, you can be well-positioned to take advantage of these opportunities and build a successful career in the green economy.