Green Economy: research projects briefing Jo Pye Senior Researcher Marchmont Observatory University of Exeter
Recent initiatives
The Europe 2020 Strategy Aims to stimulate economic growth at a time of global recession and support development of greener economies in Europe. It calls for: •building a more competitive low-carbon economy that makes efficient, sustainable use of resources •protecting the environment, reducing emissions and preventing biodiversity loss •capitalising on Europe's leadership in developing new green technologies and production methods •inclusive growth, specifically “raising Europe’s employment rate – more and better jobs, especially for women, young people and older workers”.
New Skills for Green Jobs: Project rationale • Transitions to greener economies are likely to hit lower-skilled, rather than high-skilled workers • Support measures could magnify skills and gender inequalities and undermine employment and social cohesion • Policy development for green jobs and industry sectors must ensure that jobs and skills training are gender inclusive
Benefits from integrating gender into Green Jobs • tracking the gendered employment processes that occur with the transition to greener economic activities. • avoiding reinforcing old and creating new inequalities in an uneven transition process. • provide the means to leverage public funding to promote green jobs and reduce gender inequalities.
Key project stakeholders • National, regional and local representatives involved in training practices, employment services and universities • Central and local agencies with a remit for energy and the environment • Social partners including trade unions, professional and environmental organisations • Private companies in all industry sectors affected by the green transition • Equal opportunities and civil society bodies.
Key messages from New Skills for Green Jobs - 1 • •
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‘Dark green’ jobs can help to stimulate economic recovery. Prioritising high quality ‘green’ training is vital The ‘greening’ of other occupations is important also. Responsible bodies should embrace the wider principles of sustainable development to encourage ‘green’ knowledge, skills and attitudes across the economy Women’s participation in the ‘green’ economy should be supported, to encourage opportunities to develop skills as well as social capital Achieving a more gender-inclusive labour market will require better joining-up of policy across a wide range of areas. Resources need to be drawn from both public and private sectors to develop a new ‘green’ model of governance
Key messages from New Skills for Green Jobs - 2 •
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Government at all levels – EU, national and regional - needs to ensure that departments work together to address the green skills challenge. There is little evidence that this is presently the case Green jobs need to focus on attitudes, rather than focus on technical knowledge and skills. Lessons should be learned from environmental education in schools, integrating good practice into all training Local and regional action is a key feature of training for green skills, reflecting local enthusiasm and expertise and encouraging involvement by wide ranges of partners. Good practice in supportive government policies should be widely disseminated to stimulate local initiatives
Clear About Carbon: Convergence ESF Innovation, Transnationality and Mainstreaming Project
Project Aim: Utilise public sector led supply chains to develop, test and deliver innovative approaches to increase the level of Carbon Literacy within the workforce.
What is Clear About Carbon? A four-year European Social Fund (ESF) Innovation, Transnationality and Mainstreaming project, aiming to measure and raise the levels of Carbon Literacy in Cornwall to facilitate the creation of low carbon public sector supply chains
procurement
The lead partner and responsible for engaging with the public sector on low carbon procurement and development of carbon literacy training for procurers. Working on the leadership and organisational strategies required to move to low carbon procurement in the public and private sectors. Responsible for the dissemination of the project findings through large events and hosting the website. Working with the food producers and processors in Cornwall to measure and raise carbon literacy levels across the supply chain.
Why Public Sector Procurement? •
Europe: – € 1.5 trillion – 19% of EU GDP
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UK: – £150 billion annually
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Cornwall – 2 largest spenders Public Sector – Cornwall Council circa £450million – NHS Cornwall circa £400million
Realising the Aims • • • • • • • • • • •
Supply Chain Mapping Value Chain Mapping Workshops Roundtables for Carbon Management Action Learning Sets for Business Leaders Carbon Management Degree Level Course Researching the levels of Carbon Literacy Workshops for the agri-food sector Disseminating the findings and knowledge Coaching for procurement professionals Carbon Literacy for Procurers Workshop Carbon Literacy E-learning resource
Clear About Carbon E-Learning Module: Structure and Content
Unit 1 – Basic Principles
Unit 4 - Renewables
Unit 2 – Greenhouse Gases
Unit 5 - Regulation
Unit 3 – Human Impacts
Unit 6 – Carbon Footprints
Unit 9 – Procurement
Unit 7 – Carbon Accounting Unit 8 – Embedded Carbon
www.clearaboutcarbon.com/elearning
National Recognition In December 2011 Clear about Carbon achieved national recognition when announced as joint winner of the: ‘ESF Sustainable Development Specialist Project Leader Award’
Strengthening the Environment Sector: Convergence ESF Project
Project background Aim: develop & deliver innovative ways of improving skills for the green economy and in environmental goods & services in Cornwall & Isles of Scilly
Nov ‘09 - June ‘12
Outcomes: Targets - 448 people
(>312 with qualification at level 3) Capacity building – in businesses & delivery partners (Cornwall College, full range of environmental qualifications)
For the private and public sectors emphasis: learner- & business-led links: regional & national Environmental Skills Network National Skills Academy capacity building: 8 outputs market research, skills plan
market research –
what businesses said they wanted
skills plan –
3 stages: draft, interim & final context for business needs (strategic directions, legislation)
Conclusions – what worked? learner- & business-led through bespoke delivery (informed learner engagement) In times of rapid change / uncertainty (information, politics, needs?)
Regional Recognition In September 2010 the Strengthening the Environment Sector project and Environmental Skills Network achieved regional recognition as joint winners of the ‘Convergence Region’s Sustainable Development ESF Specialist Project for the ESF Mainstreaming Leader Awards 2010’
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!! Jo Pye Senior Researcher Marchmont Observatory University of Exeter jpye@exeter.ac.uk