Skills for sustainability
Hi, I'm new to this group but was wondering what other members thought about the issue of skills for sustainability. To move to a low carbon world we need a range of skills, from highly advanced engineering to technical skills to install and use new technology. New green industries will also need to attract people with more generic skills (management, accountancy etc) if they are going to be viable and profitable, and everyone will need the skills to live in more sustainable ways.
There was a recent public consultation on this run by BIS/DECC but I was wondering what you, as an active local initiative, think about how we can best understand the skills that will be needed and enable the system to deliver them?
In case you are wondering, I work for City & Guilds and was the lead writer for our response to the consultation, so have an active interest in this area.
Thanks!
Chris Sims
#1
Thanks for contacting us Chris. You make some really good points.
My perspective, that others may add to or disagree with, is that we can't make progress on the "skills for sustainability" issue without actually trying to do something practical and real. That way you can start to identify the skills that you already have as well as those you currently lack, and how they relate to real-world problems that need solving. Broad brush policy statements don't really get us very far.
We're just starting to think about this issue more - it would be great to be able to learn more about it from your expertise and experience.
#2
I agree that most of the skills needed will relate to practical issues and that it's difficult to foresee what that list will be in its entirety. But we should be able to start assembling a list based on our own experiences, domestic and professional.
For example, I work in the retail sector on sustainability issues. One of the key challenges we are facing as a sector is that 25% of supermarkets' GHG emissions result from lost refrigerants (not the energy used in refrigeration). The major supermarket retailers are working towards switching their stock to less damaging technologies but there is a huge shortage of refrigeration engineers trained in these new technologies. Since the least damaging refrigerant currently available is CO2 (yes, you read that right!) you can see that maintenance and operational efficiency are vital.
There must be many other examples that Peckham Power members could suggest. With many university applicants likely to be disappointed this summer due to funding cuts now is the time to point up skills areas where bright young people can direct their careers.
Jane
#3
Dear all,
I have been following PP for a while in the past, specially for my final research project at Goldsmiths University in New Cross.
I do not live that far from Peckham but I am interested in the discussion on how to nurture a more sustainable way of living. This includes not only the use of more sustainable technologies and a responsible use of energy/resources but also a change in our mindset so I felt the ideas PP is promoting interests me a lot.
As you have already pointed out we need to identify and adopt new skills to live in more sustainable ways. I am currently working at Waste Watch, a charity which aim is to change lives and helping peopkle and organisations to waste less and live more. I am responsible for its online collaborative community; learning, sharing and exploring new approaches towards sustainable lifestyles.
I thought you might be interested in checking it out: Sustainable Lifestyles.
We have a lot of interesting discussions, posts and reports about what and how we need to achieve sustainable lifestyles.
Chris, you might be interested in the report from an interesting event about behavioural change and what role should the government have.
Hope to hear from you guys and that this can be a way to link our two portals around a similar interest.
Giona Fiorentino
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