Ratul Puri on Net-Zero: Closing Skilling Gaps Could Unlock Millions of Green Jobs for India

Economies worldwide are increasingly being impacted by climate change As per the IPCC Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in 2021 unless immediate largescale and rapid solutions are implemented to curb greenhouse gas GHG emissions limiting global warming to 15degC Celsius will remain beyond reachWhile the number of nations pledging to reach netzero emissions by midcentury keeps growing so do GHG emissions Therefore the gap between pledges and actions must be closed for any chance of attaining net zero by 2050 while restricting global temperatures to within 15degCAt COP26 India revealed enhanced NDC Nationally Determined Contribution targets aimed at reaching net zero by 2070However it is believed that India could achieve net zero by 2060 if not earlierThe Green Economy and Skilling IssuesIn this context the green economy paradigm is gaining popularity This paradigm seeks to address the dual targets of mitigating the climate crisis while offering impetus for job creation and economic growth With more than 135 countries committed to netzero goals policies and investments in green growth have surgedThe green economy provides a chance to boost green skills intensity while augmenting economic opportunities during this shift Green skills intensity denotes the degree to which different nations industries and jobs embed green skills The more the green skills intensity and the higher the green jobs the smoother the shift towards the green economyStudies however show that a restricted pool of green talent and the lack of chances to develop green skills can hinder the green transition To adapt to evolving standards across segments both the existing and emerging workforce entering the employment market must be equipped with critical skill sets Green jobs can be defined as those at the intersection of decent employment opportunities and environmental sustainabilityGiven the rapidly rising green business segment investments in skilling are imperative to propel Indiarsquos transition towards a green sustainable economy It is equally important to offer equal opportunities especially for people whose livelihoods are presently linked to traditional industries that would encounter changes because of the shift to a green climateresilient economy As India emerges as one of the global leaders in sustainability and green energy it has immense potential to generate millions of green jobs by 2047Accordingly consistent and equitable boosting of the skill ecosystem can ensure a just transition that doesnrsquot exclude vulnerable groupsThe importance of such an approach for India is significant due to its demographic dividend By 2030 Indiarsquos workingage group is expected to comprise the highestever share 6937 of the total demographic The promised green growth opportunity can not only enhance human potential but also help India achieve its netzero goals and contribute to the global demand for skilled talent to address the emerging climate crisisAs the fourthhighest contributor to renewable energy globally India has ambitious targets to procure 5037 of its cumulative electricity needs from renewables by 2030 While renewable energy is growing rapidly overall solar wind and bioenergy remain the primary drivers Moreover the focus on green hydrogen is expected to expand significantly in the coming years In terms of job creation solar power is projected to host 326 million jobs by 2050 with wind energy following by generating an estimated 018 million jobs by 2030 Bioenergy and green hydrogen are expected to create 027 million and 06 million jobs by 2030 respectivelyConsidering the green transition across traditional sectors over 138 domestic organisations have pledged netzero emissions by 2050 Industries like automotive construction and textiles are leading the shift through electric vehicles EVs ecofriendly construction and sustainable textiles By 2030 the advent of EVs is estimated to generate 10 million and 50 million direct and indirect jobs respectively This offers an excellent opportunity to onboard new workers as well as upskill and integrate the current 35 million ICE internal combustion engine workforce Similarly around 11 million jobs in construction are projected to be impacted by 2030 because of the sustainability shiftCreating a Skilling EcosystemEven as demand for green jobs continues to grow the ecosystem to support relevant skill sets is still nascent To fully leverage green growth opportunities India must build a scalable highquality skill infrastructure while raising awareness of green career paths through sustained outreach and campaignsAt present the Skill Council for Green Jobs and the Green Skill Development Programme have collectively trained approximately one million candidates for green economy roles Despite the efforts of 500 government and private training institutes there remains a pressing need to expand the pool of trained individuals to accelerate green growthFor this numerous systemic challenges must be addressed to fastforward skillbuilding programmes The barriers include funding gaps inadequate policies for green skill development lack of adequate skill infrastructure exclusion of vulnerable sections and low or no collaboration among key players A series of policy and reform measures is required to address these barriersSimultaneously workers need the necessary skilling reskilling and upskilling training to take up futureready job roles in the above segments This can be accomplished if public private and nongovernmental organisations join hands to meet such challenges Thereby India can reap its demographic dividend via the green economy by generating millions of new jobs directly and indirectly even as it marches towards its netzero target much before 2070

Ratul Puri on Net-Zero: Closing Skilling Gaps Could Unlock Millions of Green Jobs for India

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Ratul Puri on Net-Zero: Closing Skilling Gaps Could Unlock Millions of Green Jobs for India

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Mid-Day Fast