All over the world, countries and companies acknowledge that climate change is a global problem requiring international cooperation and coordinated solutions. In December 2015, world leaders at the UN COP21 conference signed the historic Paris Agreement.
Today, over 190 countries have joined the agreement to limit the global temperature increase in this century to 1.5°C. For companies in these countries, tackling climate change is at the top of the business agenda. And to do this, they are trying to reach net zero. Unfortunately, many are hindered from achieving this goal due to a shortage of one crucial input: skilled laborers.
What Is Net-Zero?
Net-zero refers to the difference between the amount of greenhouse gas produced by the planet and the amount removed from the atmosphere. Currently, Earth is 1.1°C warmer than it was in the late 1800s. Worryingly, it’s expected to get even warmer as we burn more fossil fuels and release more greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere. To heed the call of the Paris Agreement and limit global warming to 1.5°C, emissions must be reduced by 45% by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050. But the achievement of this goal will require a concerted effort from companies in every country.
The good news is that over 1,000 companies in 60 countries have already committed to decarbonizing at the pace and scale required to achieve global net-zero targets by 2050. Another 7000+ companies have joined the Race to Zero, an UN-backed global campaign to halve global emissions by 2030 and deliver a healthier zero-carbon world by 2050.
The not-so-good news is that many organizations are finding it a challenge to meet their net-zero goals because they are missing a critical ingredient: skilled workers.
Worker Shortages Hinder Companies’ Net-Zero Ambitions
Countries can only achieve their net-zero goals if they have the full support of their industrial and commercial sectors. As we saw earlier, companies are fully prepared to provide this support now and in future. However, they struggle to do so due to a severe shortage of skilled workers.
Take the offshore wind sector as an example. Governments worldwide are stepping up efforts to generate more renewable energy by building large wind farms and investing in solar, hydro, and bioenergy. These projects required skilled workers such as scientists, technicians, engineers, asset managers, and project managers. Widespread worker shortages undermine the governments’ efforts and countries’ overall net-zero ambitions.
Other sectors such as construction, manufacturing, and waste management are also finding it hard to source skilled workers. The shortage of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) professionals and candidates with soft skills in project management and communication hinder companies from meeting their decarbonization goals. They also find it harder to collaborate on complex net-zero initiatives with other sectors and the government.
A Net-Zero World Requires A Net-Zero Workforce
Simply put, the only way for companies to achieve net-zero is to first build a net-zero workforce. It won’t be easy to cut emissions by 45% by 2030 or to limit global warming to 1.5°C Celsius by 2050. However, the difficulty in meeting these future goals can be reduced if companies start developing a net-zero workforce in the present.
There is already a lot of enthusiasm for the Paris Agreement and the need for net-zero. In 2017, the World Economic Forum (WEF) conducted a survey of working-age adults (18-35 years) in 186 countries. Almost half agreed that climate change is one of the most serious issues of the modern world and requires greater efforts to combat it. Organizations must harness this enthusiasm for net-zero to set the foundation for a workforce that passionately contributes to the net-zero cause.
Companies must encourage this workforce by offering technology-based learning and growth. They must also adopt new technology such as AI, digital twins, robotics, and 3D printing to help optimize workers’ day-to-day tasks and increase their productivity and efficiency. In the long run, companies can drive and manage essential transformations to their business models, processes, and workforce – all of which are required to heed the global call to action for net-zero.
Another way to build a net-zero workforce is to standardize many areas of work. By using technology for standardization, firms can simplify rote tasks, drive continuous improvements in productivity, quality, and safety, and create multiple pathways for upskilling and re-skilling. Companies must also create online knowledge hubs and embed sustainability principles into their operations to demonstrate their commitment to net-zero and the fight against climate change.
Conclusion
It won’t be easy for organizations and countries to achieve their net-zero goals over the coming decades. Fortunately, it’s not impossible either. What every net-zero-committed company needs are a skilled workforce that is also committed to net-zero and to protecting the planet from greenhouse emissions. If organizations can create such a workforce, there’s no reason why they can’t achieve net-zero and help make Earth a greener and happier place for future generations.
