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What is the Green Jobs Workforce Academy?
The Green Jobs Work Academy has been set up by the Scottish Government to help Scotland reach net zero. It will support existing employees, and those facing redundancy, to assess their skills. It will also show people how to reskill or upskill to get a green job.
Scotland also needs to develop the future workforce to have the right skills for green jobs. This means schools, colleges, universities and employers will need to offer courses to meet these needs.
What makes a job green
When thinking of green jobs, it’s common to imagine windfarms, solar power and other types of renewable energy. But, as industries become more environmentally friendly, every job has the potential to be greener.
A ‘green’ job produces goods or provides services that directly benefit the environment. It could also be a job that helps industries lower their carbon footprint.
Why this matters
By making sure you have access to green learning opportunities and jobs, you can play a role in Scotland’s journey to net zero.
Businesses will still provide the same great products and services they do now. They’ll just use greener processes, energy sources and materials to limit our impact on the environment.
What is the Climate Emergency Skills Action Plan?
The Climate Emergency Skills Action Plan (CESAP) is Scotland's response to the economic problems caused by COVID-19. It will help us recover in a greener, fairer way. This is called a 'Just Transition'.
The plan addresses the climate emergency by making it easier for people to identify the new skills and jobs that Scotland needs.
The CESAP sets out a clear direction for the changes needed in our skills system. It also sets out the roles that industries, communities and individuals across Scotland will play to achieve this. It will focus on the key actions needed until 2025, with an update of the plan by the end of 2023.
What net zero means
Scotland has committed to achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045. That’s a big target!
Net zero means balancing the carbon we emit into the atmosphere, with the carbon removed from it. This balance will happen when the amount of carbon we add to the atmosphere is no more than the amount removed.
To reach net zero, we need to cut emissions from homes, transport, agriculture and industry. In other words, these sectors will have to reduce the amount of carbon they put into the atmosphere. But in some areas, like aviation, it will be too complex or expensive to cut emissions altogether.
We still need to remove these ‘residual’ emissions from the atmosphere. We can change how we use our land so it can absorb more carbon dioxide, or extract it through technologies known as carbon capture, usage and storage.
Learn more about green jobs
Industries
Learn about the qualifications and new skills you’ll need to succeed in 6 different green industries.
Jobs and courses
Explore lots of courses available to help you enhance your green skills and progress towards a greener career.