NCFE sets out some ways which might be helpful for businesses to think about terms like sustainability, green skills, and green jobs.
Defining sustainability
There are a variety of definitions being used within the UK and internationally by organisations such as ONET, International Labour Organisation, and the Green Jobs Taskforce. The latter states:
“A ‘green job’ is used to signify employment in an activity that directly contributes to - or indirectly supports - the achievement of the UK's net zero emissions target and other environmental goals, such as nature restoration and mitigation against climate risks.”
We can get hung up on trying to define and pigeonhole green jobs and green skills which in itself can be a barrier to training. In fact, there’s a compelling argument that in the future all jobs can be considered as green.
One helpful definition is from Australia:
"Skills for sustainability, also known as green skills, are the technical skills, knowledge, values and attitudes needed in the workforce to develop and support sustainable social, economic and environmental outcomes in business, industry and the community."
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