How is sustainability becoming a fixture of every job as the green economy grows? Experts explain.
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The Inflation Reduction Act sparked a wave of investments in renewable energy and the technologies needed to support a future less reliant on fossil fuels. Those commitments and the subsequent interest in green technology has helped spur workers across decades-old industries into seeking new opportunities to upskill or re-skill to meet the growing demand.
Not only are workers seeking out ways to take advantage of the mounting energy transition, they are also investing in skills that can protect biodiversity and significantly impact the health of their own neighborhoods. As previously reported in this newsletter, an analysis of LinkedIn data showed a 6.9% increase in the number of professionals adding water-based skills to their profiles in 2022 in the wake of multiple toxic water crises.
On this Earth Day, experts who are spearheading sustainable investments, operations and driving change across sectors are weighing in on how sustainability is becoming integrated into more roles and what opportunities exist in the green economy.
Here are their takeaways — share your own in the comments below or in a post using #EarthDay2023.
How businesses can prioritize biodiversity: “We are in the early days of businesses thinking about formal biodiversity targets, and I encourage leaders to frame this in terms of integrating nature-based solutions into their climate target. If the entire energy sector, including all of transportation and manufacturing, went 100% carbon neutral tomorrow, we still would not achieve our collective goals under the Paris Agreement. To do so, one third of global emissions reductions must come from the nature-based sector by 2030, which includes farming, agriculture and forestry. This is why nature is often called the forgotten solution to climate change — and why we have a wealth of opportunities to explore across all industry sectors.”
Her advice for making an impact with your career: “A key element of success in any career is the idea of radical collaboration — recognizing that the challenges that we have, whether they’re the climate crisis or global biodiversity loss or some other cause — require not only those of us who believe what is happening to sit in a room together and nod our heads, but for us to work with organizations, companies and governments that don’t agree with us so that we can find common ground and make inroads.”
Her advice for professionals who want to make sustainability a part of their job: “Start taking courses and getting certified on some key skills found in the environmental sector to complement your current work. Reframe it as a similar process to taking courses on leadership, project management, etc. Sustainability in the workplace is a skillset and mindset shift that is very cultural, habitual and skills-driven so make sure you try to get a holistic lens and have a growth mindset as the field continues to grow and evolve.”
A renewable energy trend she’s most excited about: “The large growth of renewable energy jobs that are going to be emerging due to the Inflation Reduction Act — there will be huge demand for a growing workforce that will need to be skilled up and included in these conversations via community partnerships.”
Green skills that workers should prioritize: “A strong grasp of product life cycles is important and a background or interest in environmental science or engineering can be very helpful. General knowledge is also essential, so reading as much as you can…will give you much to build a career on. Arguably just as important as any sort of technical knowledge or expertise on sustainability is the ability to talk about these topics with people who aren't familiar with them in clear and concise terms. Science communication is a vitally important skill that can inform key decisions around policies and decisions that affect the environment.”
How businesses can prioritize biodiversity: “Biodiversity is key to all the systems that underpin human societies. So, beyond including a butterfly on a logo, talk about how sustainability initiatives support biodiversity and vice versa and try to draw real-life, local comparisons for people. One aspect of this is that protecting biodiversity can offer a range of co-benefits, from improving agricultural yields and water quality to sequestering carbon.”
His advice for professionals who want to make sustainability a part of their job: “To promote sustainability in your workplace, start by educating yourself and examining your workspace. Set specific goals that align with your company's mission, collaborate with colleagues and stakeholders and collect relevant data to identify improvement opportunities.”
A renewable energy trend he’s most excited about: “I am personally excited about electric vehicles. It is a transformative technology for the transportation industry. As charging infrastructure expands and costs decrease, EVs are becoming more accessible. Advancements in battery technology are making EVs more practical and convenient for everyday use.”
Her advice for professionals who want to make sustainability a part of their job: “If you’re a professional looking to incorporate sustainability in your existing capacity, start by asking hard questions of leadership. The key is to determine gaps the organization has in terms of sustainability and then work backwards. Common opportunities for impact include conducting an energy audit, introducing employee recycling incentives and establishing a carbon offset program. Once you determine need and get approval, you can onboard like-minded colleagues to collaboratively accomplish one impactful goal at a time and build from there.”
How businesses can prioritize biodiversity: “Look at your supply chain. If more than one supplier sources the raw materials required for your product or service, whichever vendor is protecting biodiversity is the one you should be working with. Another model to consider is tried and true: adoption. Your company can “adopt” a mangrove forest, coral reef area or a piece of the ocean and offer corresponding volunteer opportunities.”
Green skills that workers should prioritize learning: “Progress moves at the speed of trust. So called ‘soft skills’ such as collaboration, problem solving and trust building are essential.”
How businesses can include biodiversity in their sustainability initiatives: “Engage with stakeholders, including local communities and conservation organizations, to better understand biodiversity risks and opportunities and to build partnerships that can help achieve conservation goals.”
About this article
This article features experts from LinkedIn's Top Voices program sharing their perspective on the future of the green economy. Top Voices is an invitation-only program featuring a global group of experts on LinkedIn covering a range of topics across the professional world, helping members uncover valuable knowledge relevant to them. You can learn more here.
Who is eligible to be a Top Voice
LinkedIn members who meet high trust standards, are consistently active on the platform and share valuable expertise are eligible to be a Top Voice, with the exception of LinkedIn and Microsoft employees, members who have violated LinkedIn’s User Agreement — including our Professional Community Policies — or individuals currently running in a political election for an executive, legislative or judicial position.
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Digital Transformation Coach | Programs Manager | Author of “Tech Newbie Blueprint” | ??Sustainability Communications | Climatebase Fellow
1 年????????Communication plays a vital role in sustainability. How well can you communicate sustainability and it’s related issues in clear and concise terms to others not in the field?? ??I personally believe storytelling is a great way to do that. People want to connect with you and real life stories. ??Also, gaining green skills and starting from where you are by implementing changes within your organization, business and/or personal life is a great way to go???? Overall, this is a great read! Thanks to everyone who contributed to this!
Powering Prime Projects | $100M to $5B+ | Project Finance Assistance for Oil and Gas, Renewable Energy, Agriculture, Data Centers, Infrastructure and More | Sustainable Growth
1 年Huh? It's time to look at the truth and not a narrative!