Susan Adams
CEO, Education for Sustainability
There is a significant gap in green skills within the workforce, and employers are urgently seeking professionals with expertise in sustainability to support the green economy transition.
With looming climate targets set by the Paris Agreement, industry is under pressure to meet these demands and upskill a workforce at the speed required for a zero-carbon economy. As we stand on the edge of another industrial revolution, education must bridge this gap with knowledge, skills, tools and the sustainability mindset needed for meaningful change.
While most people are aware of renewable energy and decarbonisation, the green economy extends far beyond these pillars. Working on the frontlines of sustainability education, we are witnessing the emergence of entirely new career paths, such as circular economies to regenerative agriculture and climate technology. In fact, some of the jobs our students will pursue don’t even exist yet.
Green innovation and sustainability mindset
Technology is central to environmental solutions, from managing smart grid systems and wind turbines to optimising resource efficiency through data analytics. However, key to any career in sustainability is understanding the climate crisis and the why behind the green transition, in order to create a future world that works for both people and the planet.
Technology is central to
environmental solutions.
Starting early, thinking long-term
As the education system undergoes reform in both primary and senior cycles, we have an opportunity to create an education system that meets the needs of planetary boundaries, innovation and future careers.
As a not-for-profit social enterprise delivering programmes in 500 schools nationwide, we see the appetite for climate literacy education. However, schools face challenges with curriculum constraints, teacher training and funding. Through collaboration with teachers, principals and community leaders, we are working to overcome these barriers.
Climate literacy empowers the future
Investing in climate literacy and green skills will empower students to shape a sustainable future. What’s more, it’s morally and ethically the right thing to do for the future of our planet. By collaborating with educators, communities and industry, we can ensure our young people are ready to seize the opportunities of the green economy and create a world of abundance.
It’s our mission that every child in Ireland is climate literate by 2030.
Contact us to partner through CSR or Trading for Impact.
