Mission Impact launches regular news and knowledge-sharing updates to keep our community connected and informed about what’s happening around the globe, offering solutions to the challenges we face together. From thought-provoking stories to actionable ideas, we’re here to spark conversations and inspire change.
Packed with bite-sized insights on green skills, this digest is designed to fuel your efforts toward a just and sustainable green transition. Dive into global perspectives, practical strategies, and cutting-edge innovations in clean energy and sustainability—empowering you to drive impactful green transformation. Stay informed, inspired, and ready to make a difference!
Reading time – 8 min
GREEN SKILLS IN ACTION
Green-Skilled Job Seekers Are 54.6% More Likely to Land Jobs in 2024
To wrap up the 2024 trends on green skills, let's take a closer look at the key developments shaping this dynamic field. Green skills have continued to gain prominence across various sectors, with a focus on sustainability-driven innovations, workforce reskilling, and integration of environmentally conscious practices.
The LinkedIn Global Green Skills Report 2024 highlights an urgent need to double the global green talent pool by 2050 to meet climate targets.
Green jobs surged by 11.6% in 2024, but green-skilled workers grew by only 5.6%, leaving a widening talent gap. With AI adoption and expanding datacenter capacity, demand in the tech, media, and information sectors skyrocketed by 60%.
Future Alert
By 2030, the shortage of green talent could hit 18.7%, unless urgent upskilling initiatives take hold. Gen Z and women remain underrepresented—just 1 in 20 workers under 30 have green skills, and women account for only 10% of global green talent.
The Global Surge in Green Talent Demand
• United Kingdom: Demand for green talent soared by 46% from 2023 to 2024, while the supply of green-skilled workers increased by just 5.3%. This imbalance has driven the hiring rate for green talent to a remarkable 72% higher than the overall hiring rate.
• Finland and the Netherlands: Despite job postings requiring at least one green skill dropping by 43.8% and 20.1%, respectively, green-skilled candidates in these countries are over twice as likely to secure jobs compared to other workers.
• Saudi Arabia: Under Vision 2030, green job demand has risen by 11.7%, with a focus on renewable energy, carbon management, and sustainable construction sectors.
• Brazil: As a leader in solar energy, Brazil has seen green skill adoption grow ninefold in 2024, supported by an $82 billion transition program aimed at fostering sustainability.
• Africa: Innovative startups, like Ethiopia’s Kubik, are creating green jobs by turning waste into opportunities, revitalizing underserved communities across the continent.
• Asia: Green skills are experiencing rapid growth in India and China, driven by industrial policies that emphasize sustainability and decarbonization.
Read the Global Green Skills Report 2024, LinkedIn
The Green Energy Workforce Gap: Reskilling for a Sustainable Future
A looming 7 million-worker gap in the global green energy workforce by 2030, could jeopardize climate goals. However, restructuring existing economic clusters could improve cost efficiency by 20-30% and drive green growth. High-demand roles include engineers, technicians, and renewable energy experts. That shows need for urgent investments in education and workforce reskilling to close the gap. Governments and industries must collaborate to create incentives for training in the renewable energy sector to meet decarbonization targets.
Read the BCG Report 2024 "Supporting Economic Clusters in the Green Transition”
Girls Powering a Greener Tomorrow
UNICEF and the UN Environment Programme present the joint recommendations on green skills, action-driven agenda to empower girls and young women with cutting-edge green skills, directly addressing gender disparities in the environmental sector and shaping a more inclusive, sustainable future. The recommendations emphasized placing girls and young women at the heart of 21st-century solutions for climate resilience.
By investing in their skills—spanning renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and green technology—these changemakers are shaping not only their communities but the global sustainability landscape.
Transforming Education tailored for green skills and STEM was identified as critical, with a call to redesign curriculums based on direct input from young women. These efforts aim to break barriers and redefine success in traditionally male-dominated sectors.
Empowering Ecopreneurs in remote areas and marginalized communities was highlighted as essential for the future of eco-entrepreneurship. Proposals included targeted mentorship programs, micro-grants for green businesses, and family-inclusive career guidance sessions.
From reforestation to clean energy advocacy, girls are leading community-based climate initiatives. To amplify their impact, safe collaborative networks and mentorship programs with industry leaders will be established.
The roadmap calls on governments, businesses, and international organizations to collaborate urgently. Among the standout proposals: introducing quotas for female representation in climate decision-making and launching public campaigns to shatter stereotypes about women in green jobs.
Read the Joint Recommendations on Green Skills with and for Girls and Young Women
GLOBAL INSIGHTS: LEADING THE CHANGE
China's Clean Energy Transition Accelerates, Experts Predict Coal Peak by 2025
China is on track to peak its coal consumption by 2025, according to a new report, China’s Climate Transition: Outlook 2024, which highlights significant progress in clean energy development, reflecting growing optimism about China's energy transition.
The findings indicate that renewable energy installations, particularly in solar and wind power, are set to break records again this year. Electric vehicle sales also surged, accounting for over 50% of total vehicle sales for three consecutive months in 2024. These advancements are seen as critical steps in China’s journey towards carbon neutrality.
However, challenges remain. Despite stable CO₂ emissions in 2024, China is not yet on track to meet its 2025 carbon intensity targets. The report warns that emissions from the coal-to-chemicals industry and overall energy consumption growth still pose significant hurdles.
“China’s transition to clean energy is not just essential for global climate goals but also presents a major opportunity for economic transformation,” said Dr. Xunpeng Shi, President of ISETS. “With continued focus and investment, the country can accelerate its decarbonization efforts and set an example for the world.”
Read the China's Climate Transition: Outlook 2024
If you want to explore why China stands at the forefront of global clean energy diplomacy, we recommend reading Clean Energy Diplomacy: Global Trends and China's Path by Li Xinlei. The book emphasizes that while developed countries continue to dominate in technology, China’s unparalleled accomplishments in installed capacity and investment firmly establish its position as a global leader in clean energy. This work delves into China's strategic, moral, and normative impact in shaping the future of clean energy governance.
Read the Clean Energy Diplomacy: Global Trends and China's Path by Li Xinlei
Latin America Community-led Energy Initiatives
Community-led energy initiatives in Latin America are reshaping electricity systems by empowering local participation and addressing issues like energy poverty and unreliable grids. In 2023, Latin America and the Caribbean generated 64% of their electricity from clean energy sources, significantly surpassing the global average of 39%. These projects are emerging as sustainable, inclusive, and resilient solutions tailored to local needs. Community energy projects can reduce energy poverty, benefiting over 30 million people in Latin America who lack reliable electricity.
Key examples highlight the potential of this bottom-up approach:
• In Rio de Janeiro’s Babilônia favela, the Revolusolar project installed solar panels, cutting household electricity bills by up to 30% while fostering community engagement and environmental awareness.
• The El Salvador community in Medellín overcame bureaucratic hurdles to become one of the first energy communities selling power back to the national grid, improving local grid reliability.
• The Pichidegua commune’s distributed generation project provides clean energy for local services like schools and public buildings, reducing emissions and raising awareness about renewable energy benefits.
These initiatives showcase how local energy communities are not only addressing immediate energy needs but also contributing to long-term sustainability and equity in Latin America’s energy landscape.
Links: Ember Energy Report & IEA Commentary on Energy Communities in Latin America
MISSION IMPACTS RECOMMENDED MUST-READS FOR INSPIRATION: BOOKS
#Leadership
Autonomous Transformation: Creating a More Human Future in the Era of Artificial Intelligence by Brian Evergreen is a groundbreaking book released in 2024, tailored for both young and seasoned leaders. This essential read explores how AI is reshaping leadership, emphasizing the balance between technological advancement and human-centric decision-making. It’s a guide to staying ahead of the curve while creating a more connected, human future in the age of automation.
Blending strategy, economics, and systemic design with actionable frameworks, it’s the ultimate playbook for creating value and shaping a better future in today’s era of rapid change.
#Climate Change
Glacial: The Inside Story of Climate Politics by Chelsea Henderson
Climate change is often described in terms of urgency—rising temperatures, melting ice caps, and an impending need for action. Yet, behind the closed doors of global summits, the pace of progress can feel excruciatingly slow. Chelsea Henderson’s Glacial dives headfirst into this paradox, revealing why the wheels of climate policy often grind at a crawl despite the planet’s pressing needs.
The book is built around a central theme: the human factor in climate politics. Henderson shares riveting stories of negotiators working 20-hour days, sprinting toward last-minute agreements, and balancing the expectations of both their nations and the world. She reveals how small countries with big ideas have managed to punch above their weight, influencing outcomes despite limited resources. At the same time, Henderson doesn’t shy away from exploring the frustrations—how major powers sometimes derail progress for political gain, and how science is often a pawn in the game of geopolitics.
What makes Glacial particularly compelling is Henderson’s knack for storytelling. Readers will find themselves immersed in anecdotes that range from inspiring to infuriating. In one chapter, she recounts the near-collapse of a landmark agreement due to a single country’s objection. In another, she highlights a grassroots coalition of negotiators and activists who managed to push through a key provision despite overwhelming odds.
Whether you’re an activist, a policy enthusiast, or just someone curious about the forces shaping our future, this book will inspire you to stay engaged, no matter how slow the pace of progress may seem.
