The European Union is setting concrete goals for the green transition and its plan is set for 2050, when Europe is set to become the first climate-neutral continent. The European Commission has presented an agenda in which it declares, among other things, to strive to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% and to plant 3 billion trees by 2030.
The change plan covers key issues, such as the need for new professions where so-called “green” skills will be required, and for leaders who will be actively engaged activists. While the latter logically follows from the ecological context and the Union's plans for a green Europe, a leader identified with an activist can evoke unobvious associations.The green transition is not the only topic widely discussed in the media — alongside it also social issues, including those related to nature conservation, sustainable development and the impact of the green transition on life public. The fields of activism and ecology naturally intersect, but activism itself also branches into other topics, such as pro-social policies, working conditions, equality and human rights. In the professional context, both ecology and activism present new socio-professional roles and desirable competencies in the labor market.
Green competitions
One of the sectors that is going through a transformation aimed at implementing green practices is the construction sector. It constitutes an important part of the European Union economy, accounting for around 6% of the Union's GDP and employs around 13.5 million people (6.6% of employment in the EU-27 in 2021). Construction is associated with improving the energy efficiency of buildings, the importance of these strategies is underlined by projects such as the Renovation Wave (2020) and the New European Bauhaus (2021) and require solutions such as: making buildings more energy efficient and installing wind and solar farms on a large scale. The construction sector is also involved in a transformational initiative that aims to make cities greener. Increasingly, there will be a need for people who can approach the industry in a modern and holistic way, skillfully acting in the area of ecological solutions. The high proportion of concentrated employment in micro-enterprises, which are difficult to reach through training initiatives, will require the introduction of many new competences in the construction industry.
In the energy industry, much attention is focused on renewable energy sources, which include: wind energy, solar energy, hydropower (hydropower), geothermal energy and biomass. With these changes, the number of relevant regulations related to the European Green Deal increases. As far as the professional sphere is concerned, the demand for specialists in renewable energy, recycling and natural resource management is increasing.
From February 2022 to February 2023, the number of LinkedIn jobs requiring at least one green economy skill increased by 15.2% in the median. The median employment rate for employees with at least one green skill on LinkedIn is 29% higher than the market average. Globally, only 1 in 8 employees have one or more green skills, which means that we are far from achieving the required universality of these competencies.
The European Labour Office published a list of the most sought-after green jobs last year, stressing that climate change is a present and future challenge that many professions and positions with high environmental impact will have to take up.
A “green” workplace defines work that focuses on the natural environment, the protection of its resources, individual areas of the Earth, and also reduces harmful emissions and overproduction.
The green professions that were most in demand in 2023, according to the European Labor Office, were:
- Renewable energy engineer (e.g. photovoltaic panel fitter or wind turbine technician)
- Civil engineer (e.g. project manager, sustainable city planning)
- Scientist (e.g. sustainability advisor or consultant)
- Fisheries specialist (fisheries management in the context of ecological diversity)
- Tree Nurse Surgeon (planting new trees and shrubs, caring for diseased trees, and general environmental protection.)
- Product designer (sustainable fashion designer, sustainability specialist, educator).
Almost every one of these professions covers important issues of sustainable development, which is one of the key, yet common to many different industries, ecological solutions. This requires a specialist approach, as well as, for example, a change in the culture of running a company.
CEO and Activism
Executives have a significant influence on the formation of the culture of the organization, as well as on how the company, through the values developed and the actions taken, will be perceived in society. Companies often have to make decisions not only based on their primary economic interests, but also in accordance with the values they have created and, especially relevant in today's world, with the challenges of today. Social pressures are an important and often effective form of change today. They are associated with activist activities, politics and the exerting of pressure on specific entities. Can the CEO, as a representative of the company, engage in this type of activity at the same time? On what principle is this done and what effect does it have?
A small survey of Dutch business leaders (Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University) pointed out some inspirations that the CEO of the company should take into account and that are relevant social issues today:
- Sustainability
- Climate change
- CSR
- Diversity
- Integration
- Labour market
In the same study, there is information that activism among CEOs is growing in the Netherlands. They predict that with the influence of millennials, changing social realities, and mounting political and social pressures, CEOs will increasingly be expected to speak out publicly. In their opinion, companies must clearly define their values and show how they intend to make concrete changes.
You can also ask yourself how many companies still believe that issues such as diversity, climate change and integration do not have a “direct” impact on their core business. Less and less (the example of the DEI culture tells us about this). Therefore, it is becoming increasingly important for CEOs, as representatives of organizations, to engage in these issues. Topics that once seemed to lie outside their scope of responsibility have now acquired a completely different meaning.
What do customers and employees expect from CEOs in the context of activism?
According to a global study (Edelman Trust Barometer, 2023):
- 89% of respondents believe that CEOs should take a stand on the treatment of employees.
- 82% say they should voice their position on climate change, and 80% expect them to speak out on discrimination.
- 84% believe that it is the responsibility of CEOs to ensure fair remuneration.
- 79% believe they should take care of the safety and well-being of their community.
- 64% of respondents say companies can support society by promoting public figures who build consensus and collaboration.
Not only do employees expect CEOs to engage with social and ESG issues, but customers and the younger generation of potential employees are also paying attention to leaders' actions.
Report published in 2018 The New Age of Activism (World Economic Forum) points out that activism is no longer the domain of only CSR departments, but is becoming an essential part of a company's management strategy. Issues such as human rights, climate change or gender equality no longer concern only social activists. The CEO, as CEO, is in a position from which clear and concrete positions are expected - this is increasingly demanded by both employees and the company itself, which cares about its image. The study also reveals information about the authenticity of CEOs; companies are increasingly being held accountable for their actions, as social awareness and attention to social issues increases. Authenticity is also about building trust among customers, which allows to maintain the continuity and stability of the company. CEOs who express their opinions according to the values of the organization or personal experiences achieve greater influence. An example of this is the company Dick's Sporting Goods, whose chairman of the board, after the events related to violence in the USA, decided to withdraw assault weapons from the offer.
The expectations of young workers have also changed: Millennials and younger generations are increasingly demanding that business leaders speak out on social issues. This type of commitment not only responds to their expectations, but also strengthens the loyalty of employees and customers to the company. The CEO becomes the leader of change that can benefit not only the company but the entire market.
While there are many benefits to activism, it also comes with some risks — these actions can be criticized by various stakeholders. Nevertheless, according to a study by the World Economic Forum, many CEOs recognize that this approach is appropriate for the future development of the company.
summary
Today's times, full of transformations, both in the green and social areas, require new competences. Both environmental and sustainability skills as well as responsible CEO leadership and being a change leader can bring significant improvements to the job market. Both areas - ecology and society - interpenetrate each other, develop and require continuous improvement from the labor market. For employees, it is also a collection of important information that affects their development and career plans.
Sources:
https://www.cedefop.europa.eu/en/tools/skills-intelligence/trend-focus/future-jobs#1
https://www.cedefop.europa.eu/en/tools/skills-intelligence/trend-focus/future-jobs#1
https://economicgraph.linkedin.com/research/global-green-skills-report
https://www.finn.agency/will-ceo-activism-become-trend-europe/
https://www.finn.agency/will-ceo-activism-become-trend-europe/
https://www.edelman.com/trust/2023/trust-barometer
https://www.catalyst.org/research/ceo-activism-trend-brief/
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2018/01/new-age-of-ceo-activism/
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