In Paris, in December 2015, the parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) reached a landmark agreement to combat climate change and to accelerate and intensify the actions and investments needed for a sustainable, low-carbon future. One of the main aims of the agreement is to keep the global temperature rise this century well below two degrees. With this agreement in place, countries have been encouraged to adopt sustainable and environmental practices to decrease their impact on the planet.
But what green skills should we master to ensure that the businesses we run are sustainable? Green skills can be divided into technical skills and soft skills.
Technical skills
Technical skills are industry-specific skills which engage directly with processes, practices, and technologies to decrease their impact on the environment. The broad spectrum of skills which need to be adapted to the industry concerned are:
- Renewable energy: There are three main types of renewable energy. They are wind, hydro and solar. In South Africa, solar energy has boomed. Renewable energy offers a variety of job opportunities from instalments of systems to the maintenance of them.
- Energy efficiency: Even though renewable energy may seem limitless; we still need to be efficient with our use of energy. We need to build energy-efficient buildings and look at ways to decrease our greenhouse gas emissions.
- Green development and design: One area where most industries can be involved is in the development and design of products and processes which are environmentally friendly.
- Waste management: Developing skills in waste reduction, recycling and composting can help manage the waste developed through different processes in different industries.
- Agricultural sustainability: Agriculture needs to consider its impact on the environment. By creating sustainable practices through organic farming and crop rotation, the environment can be looked after.
Soft Skills
Soft green skills are focused on effective communication and collaboration to achieve environmental solutions. The main soft skills that can be adopted by every industry are:
- Effective communication: Everyone should practice the ability to explain complex environmental concepts to a variety of people. They could be your colleague, boss, or the general public. Being able to communicate well in every situation is essential.
- Teamwork and collaboration: With environmental solutions, there are many different teams involved and working well in teams will ensure that the projects move smoothly.
- Problem-solving: Some environmental problems have never happened before, and we need to be able to assess the problem well so that the best solution can be sought for it.
- Adaptability: With going green being a new trend, there are many changes still happening. It is important to be adaptable to the new laws, best practices and technologies which are happening.
- Leadership: As a leader, you need to advocate for people to embrace the responsibility of being green. You also need to guide and encourage sustainable practices in your area of expertise.
By mastering these soft and technical skills, you can ensure that you are at the forefront of your industry in ensuring a sustainable and bright future for the next generation.
Proudly brought to you by the NSBC