Towards Green Jobs: Opportunities in the Green Transition, Sueca, Spain, 7 May 2025
- Tessy Melidi
- May 23
- 3 min read
Updated: May 24
On May 7, 2025, at the Mancomunitat de la Ribera Baixa Headquarters in Sueca, Spain, a landmark workshop titled "Towards Green Jobs: Opportunities in the Green Transition" convened. This significant event, attracting an engaged audience of 37 participants, served as a crucial component of the broader European project Act-Green: Active Cities Green Cities.
The workshop was inaugurated by Rafael Gisbert Aragó, President of the Mancomunitat de la Ribera Baixa, who articulated the indispensable role of local governance in driving this transformative shift. He emphasized, "Local entities play a fundamental role in the promotion of green policies and the active involvement of citizens, especially young people and women". His welcoming remarks underscored the collaborative spirit essential for navigating the ecological transition.
A central theme of the workshop was the crucial importance of socio-occupational insertion pathways and green occupations as vital instruments for achieving a just ecological transition. Attendees benefited from the expertise of key speakers who offered profound insights into this evolving sector. Regina Martínez Román, Technician of socio-labour insertion itineraries, captivated the audience by shedding light on the diverse and expanding employment opportunities linked to sustainability. She provided practical guidance on "how to guide people in vulnerable situations towards these new employment niches", highlighting the inclusive potential of the green economy. Martínez Román's presentation, titled “Pathways to labor insertion in green occupations: The importance of training”, stressed the critical role of education and skill development in preparing individuals for these new roles. Her insights were drawn from the PROGRAMA ILDONA, a program designed to improve the qualification of women in rural and urban areas to increase their participation in the economic activity of their zone, with a focus on digital, technological, entrepreneurial, and green economy aspects. The program also aims to develop individualized training and labor insertion itineraries that focus on green and digital competencies.
Carmen María Peris González, Local Employment and Development Agent, offered practical examples of sustainable local development. She underscored the indispensable nature of collaboration, stating that "collaboration between administrations, companies and citizens is a way to promote quality green jobs". Her concluding remarks synthesized the day's key takeaways and reiterated the collective effort required for success.
The workshop also delved into the very definition and benefits of green jobs. As highlighted in the presentations, "Green jobs are those aimed at protecting and promoting the environment, or those that consider at all times their impact on the health of the planet and try to minimize it". These roles are crucial for increasing the efficiency of raw materials and energy consumption, limiting greenhouse gas emissions, minimizing waste and pollution, protecting and restoring ecosystems, and contributing to climate change adaptation.
The economic impact of green jobs was also a key discussion point, with information shared that the ILO has warned that "if nothing changes, the growth of employment in the future will not be enough to satisfy the increase in the labor force in emerging and developing countries". Furthermore, it was noted that "almost 94% of companies claim not to have the necessary talent to generate green jobs", underscoring the urgent need for focused training and development. The rise of these new roles is a direct consequence of the "decarbonization of the economy and the development of the circular economy".
The event successfully facilitated the sharing of best practices, the generation of local synergies, and the reinforcement of the active role of citizens in shaping a future that is "greener, more equitable and participatory".
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