Young people have the opportunity to develop green skills and are open to acquiring knowledge in this area – this is the conclusion of the panel “Green jobs, occupations and education” which was held in the European House in Belgrade as part of the European Week of Green Diplomacy organized by the Delegation of the European Union in Serbia.
The organizer of the panel is the EU4Green project, a regional initiative funded by the European Union and the Austrian Development Agency ADA, and implemented by the Austrian Environment Agency. “Through this project, we support the Western Balkans region in the implementation of the Green Agenda with the aim of strengthening sustainable practices and green transition in accordance with European standards,” said Nenad Konstantinović, communications manager at the EU4Green project and moderator of the panel.
The panel was opened with an opening address by Daniela Zanini-Frejtag, an expert in green education from the Austrian Environment Agency. Daniela presented the activities of the EU4Green project, which include the preparation and continuous training of the workforce through various programs for the needs of local economies. “We are focused on customized trainings that meet local needs, such as trainings for wastewater treatment plant operators, thereby contributing to the strengthening of green skills and sustainable development,” Daniela pointed out.
One of the panelists, Ivana Milićević, project coordinator at the Regulatory Institute for Renewable Energy and the Environment (RERI), emphasized the importance of the legal framework for promoting green jobs. “There is a lack of measures and concrete policies that would encourage young people to focus on green jobs”, said Ivana, emphasizing the need to involve young people in institutional processes.
Milica Lukić, a researcher at the Faculty of Geography in Belgrade, pointed out the limited awareness of young people about the wide opportunities in green sectors. “Young people often associate green skills exclusively with ecology, while wider education and communication about positive examples is needed,” Milica said, adding that connecting the academic and non-governmental sectors is key to creating a favorable educational environment.
Tatjana Avramović, an environmentalist and researcher at the Platform Zajdejno, pointed out that “green workplaces should become the standard in most sectors, and the civil sector has a key role in opening space for training and developing skills through various initiatives.”
Nemanja Petrović, project coordinator at the Belgrade Open School (BOŠ), spoke about the changes in the green labor market. “The most sought-after sectors are green management, energy efficiency, circular economy, green IT and sustainable agriculture,” said Nemanja, who leads the “Green Generations – Schools involved in climate action” project, empowering young people to take an active role in their communities.
Finally, Dalibor Ignjatović, director of innovation at the National Association of Autonomous and Electric Vehicles (NAAEV), spoke about innovations and the development of green jobs in the field of e-mobility.
The panelists concluded that the key roles of experts, regulatory frameworks and media in promoting green jobs and green skills. This discussion highlighted the importance of education and cooperation of different sectors in supporting the green transition in the Western Balkans.
Source: EU4Green
Source: energetskiportal.rs
