Green Careers
A Green Economy is characterised by substantially increased investments in economic sectors that build on and enhance the earth’s natural capital or reduce ecological scarcities and environmental risks. These investments are driven by or supported by national policy reforms and the development of international policy and market infrastructure.
Green careers are careers that contribute substantially to preserving or restoring environmental quality. Specifically, but not exclusively, this includes jobs that help to protect ecosystems and biodiversity; reduce energy, materials, and water consumption through high efficiency strategies; de-carbonize the economy; and minimize or altogether avoid generation of all forms of waste and pollution.
'In the future, every job will be a green job, contributing to varying degrees to continuous improvement of resource efficiency.' European Union, 2010
The green economy is rapidly gathering momentum causing growing numbers of green careers to be created. All this is happening for a number of reasons and the information below should help you understand some of these factors. A key thing to remember is that:
Carbon Reduction Plans
Due to the global environmental crisis, peak oil and the economic recession businesses, governments and individuals are increasingly realising that it makes both environmental and economic sense to be green (for more information on these factors see our Green Economy and Jobs Information sheet). In order to become green, businesses and governments are frequently implementing carbon reduction plans.
Here are some examples:
The European Union's (EU) new strategy for sustainable growth and jobs, Europe 2020, puts innovation and green growth at the heart of its blueprint for competitiveness.
UK Cabinet ministers, in May 2011, agreed to a far-reaching, legally binding "green deal" that will commit the UK to two decades of drastic cuts in carbon emissions. The package will require sweeping changes to domestic life, transport and business and will place Britain at the forefront of the global battle against climate change.
LG Group aims to cut its greenhouse gas emissions 40 per cent against 2009 levels by the end of the decade.
Sony plans for zero carbon footprint by 2050.
Marks and Spencer launched its Plan A policy in 2007 in which it set out 180 commitments to achieve by 2015, with the ultimate goal of becoming the world's most sustainable major retailer.
Investment in Green Technology
In order to achieve these plans green (clean) technology needs to be developed and implemented. This requires sustainable and responsible financial investment. According to a major new report, titled Clean Technology Annual Deals Analysis 2010, global investment in green technology grew 32% to $381bn in 2009 despite the economic turmoil. Additionally, Thomson Reuters, PwC and the National Venture Capital Associate found that global venture capital investment in clean technology reached $773.5m in the third quarter, an 87% rise from the previous quarter and more than treble the year – ago period.
This investment and spending is a worldwide phenomenon, for instance according to figures complied by Bloomberg New Energy Finance in China green technology spending is soaring. It reached $34.6bn last year compared with $2.5bn five years ago and Europe has reported investments of $168.4bn in 2009 compared to $110.5bn in 2008.
Here are some examples of investment:
The Global Investment Bank was set up in March 2010 by the British government in order to improve low carbon development.
The Global Environment Facility (GEF) is the world's largest public environmental fund. On the 13th May 2010 it pledged to invest a record £2.86bn over the next four years in low carbon projects in emerging markets.
Bill Gates is one of the world's top clean technology investors.
Doerr, the venture capitalist who invested early in Google and Amazon, has set up a $100 million fund to invest in green technology.
Mitsubishi, General Electric and Siemens have launched plans to invest £279m in UK wind turbine plants.
Such investment has had a positive impact on green technology businesses. Shai Weiss from the Virgin Green Fund states they are growing 20 to 30 percent a year.
Efficiency Measures Implemented
Such demand and investment means that low carbon efficiency measures, such as renewable energy sources, green technology and low carbon transport are increasingly being developed, distributed and implemented by businesses, governments and individuals.
Additionally, in order to bring about a low carbon world it is crucial to have people engaged therefore effective communication, training and education on such issues is increasing.
Now imagine the vast and varied jobs that are needed to carry out
this massive shift in society!
