Social equity & labour
Green Skills
The knowledge, abilities, values, and attitudes needed to live, work, and act in economies seeking to reduce the environmental impact of human activity.
Definition
Green skills are the knowledge, abilities, values, and attitudes needed to live, work, and act in economies and societies seeking to reduce the impact of human activity on the environment, as defined by Cedefop. They comprise transversal skills linked to sustainable thinking and acting relevant to all occupations; specific skills to adapt standards, processes, and services to protect ecosystems and reduce energy, material, and water use; and highly specialised skills to develop and implement green technologies.
References
official definition and typology
Overview
What it means
Green skills are not confined to "green jobs": a plumber installing heat pumps, an accountant producing CSRD disclosures, and a procurement manager screening suppliers all need them. This breadth makes skills one of the binding constraints on the transition — shortages in installation, engineering, and sustainability-professional roles already slow deployment in many economies.
How it is used
The concept structures vocational education and training policy, occupational standards, corporate training, and just-transition programmes for workers moving from declining industries.
Why it matters
Technology and finance get attention, but transitions are installed by people; skills determine whether targets can be executed.
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