During the sidelines of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP28), AE4RIA and Huawei collaborated in hosting a session alongside the UNFCCC Global Innovation Hub, aiming to “Accelerate Green Innovation.” The outcome of this collaboration is the release of a white paper titled “Twin Skills for the Twin Transition: Defining Green Digital Skills and Jobs.” This report, developed in partnership with the ATHENA Research Centre, Sustainable Development Unit under AE4RIA, PwC, and with contributions from EIT Digital, serves as a comprehensive guide to establishing new training programs. These programs aim to equip the green digital workforce essential for achieving net-zero goals.
At the event’s commencement, Vicky Zhang, Vice President of Corporate Affairs at Huawei, expressed pride in launching the report. Zhang highlighted the report’s focus on creating a novel classification for Green Digital Skills, providing a roadmap for reskilling and upskilling individuals. The objective is to empower them to contribute to the deployment of net-zero technologies necessary for meeting the objectives outlined in the Paris Agreement.
Salvatore Moccia, Head of Education and Skills at EIT Digital, emphasized the challenges faced by European companies in finding workers with the right skill set, stressing the need for a paradigm shift in defining and developing skills for the digital and green transitions.
In the midst of various crises, economic growth without a parallel commitment to sustainability is deemed inadequate. The omnipresence of digital technologies in our lives has accelerated the pace of change, with a particular focus on the clean-tech revolution driven by the imperative to produce green energy. This shift poses significant implications for job markets.
Dr. Barbara Botos, Ambassador-at-large for Climate at the Ministry of Energy of Hungary, underscored the importance of balanced development in all sectors to drive the green transition. She noted that Europe needs to enhance its skills to effectively accelerate this transition, citing predictions that one million jobs will emerge in the EU solar sector alone by 2025.
During the launch event, Prof. Phoebe Koundouri, President of EAERE and Chair of SDSN Global Climate Hub, emphasized the structural changes occurring in labor markets due to the Twin Transition. As the EU develops a net-zero industrial strategy, the collaboration’s research efforts aim to inform stakeholders about the evolving labor needs necessary to achieve climate neutrality by 2050.
Dr. Hui Cao, Huawei Vice President for European Public Affairs, concluded by urging collective efforts to disseminate the report. Cao highlighted the vast challenges posed by climate change but expressed optimism in developing the necessary talent to leverage digitalization for revolutionizing sustainability approaches.
For those interested, the report is accessible at: Link
