The Green Edge Take – April 2025
Our take on the crop of green reports from this month's reading list.
The Green Edge Take, reflecting our views on the crop of sustainability-related publications that crossed our desk last month.
֎ Reports we feel are particularly worth a look.
Skills and Workforce Development
֎ Skilled to Build: Empowering the UK’s Repair, Maintenance and Improvement Sector
Author/publisher: TrustMark / Eureka! Research and Oxford Economics
Publication Date: 2025
A rich and deep report looking at skills through the eyes and voices of over 1,200 SMEs delivering repair, maintenance and improvement services. These are the services we all use at home and at work to decorate, replace boilers, install insulation and so on, and the whole sector is made up of 280,000 SMEs and employ 1.2mn people. Several things struck us here: first, something like 39,000 businesses are in danger of disappearing over the next 10 years (14% of the total); second, there is the potential to recruit 195,000 people into skilled RMI roles (advertised roles only come to 33,000); and third, there is a clear appetite to grow. This is a positive message around net zero and the decarbonisation of the built environment.
Green Skills for Sustainability Transitions
Author/publisher: Martina Fuchs, Geography Compass
Publication Date: 2024
A useful review of the literature, highlighting the research gap around the implementation of green skills in vocational education and further training, and their subsequent impact on sustainability and the net zero transition. Well worth reading to shaping one’s thinking about the strategic research agenda.
The Union of Skills
Author/publisher: European Commission
Publication Date: March 2025
The EU skills strategy to address both net zero and competitiveness makes for good reading as it also addresses social equity issues to boost access and inclusion. Provides a useful backdrop to specific national skills strategies within the European Union. Usefully, the UK is included in several of the charts.
Closing the Retrofit Skills Gap
Author/publisher: Charlotte Ravenscroft / Gatsby Foundation
Publication Date: March 2025
A useful status report, but one which would have been greatly improved had labour market data been used to look at the magnitude of the skills gap and the ability of current role holders to gain the key additional skills for retrofitting (e.g. gas engineers and HVAC installers taking on heat pumps). Other developments in this space should also be recognised, such as use of automated schemes to add in the retrofitting process, the role of housing associations in driving the skills for retrofitting as they role out upgrades across their estate, and the development of the skills relevant for retrofitting through the boost to new house building. Plus—LSIPs, a key data source for this report, only cover England, and we need a UK-wide analysis.
Skills Policy in Britain and the Future of Work. An Historical Political Analysis.
Tom Bewick, Policy Press, October 2025 (book)
This book examines the evolution of UK skills policy from the 1881 Royal Commission on Technical Instruction to the present day, revealing how shifting political ideologies have shaped workforce development. It applies a chronological, historical-policy-analysis framework to explain the 'four training states' of skills policy and workforce development between the 1940s and the 2020s, these being: 1) the Interventionist State (1944–1979); 2) the Laissez-faire State (1980–1987); 3) Localism and Devolved States (1988–2010); and 4) the Technocratic State (2011 onwards). Traversing time periods to uncover political and economic driving forces, this book challenges conventional thinking and offers insights into how future skills policies can be more effective. Knowing what worked and what has been tried is very useful, and this book provides a very readable account of both.
Investigation into Introducing T Levels
Author/publisher: National Audit Office (UK)
Publication Date: March 2025
T Levels are important, relatively new and largely technical qualifications in England for 16–19-year-olds. Monitoring the health and performance of key qualifications is crucial and several indicators are found here, including overall awareness of T Levels, and access and availability of industry placements. The cohort studies of T level students by the Gatsby Charitable Foundation is also important here, looking at the progression of students post-T Level qualification. Our interest here is in the supply of people to join all green roles.
Labour Market
֎ Delivering Evidence from Online Job Advertisements
Author/publisher: CEDEFOP & Eurostat
Publication Date: 2025
We have long supported the use of online job adverts to enhance skills mapping and understanding. Leaving aside the general application of OJA, here is a deep dive into the greening of work (Chapter 6, pages 63-68 and Annex 3, pages 107-123) which help in defining green skills and occupations. A helpful piece of work and one which others can draw on to refine their analyses of the green economy.
֎ The Green Potential of Occupations in Switzerland
Author/publisher: Michael Lobsiger and Christian Rutzer
Publication Date: 2021
Develops an occupational greening index using O*NET data and makes a few interesting findings: higher scores are generally found in engineering and technical occupations, and those holding roles with a high greening score tend to be younger, male and have higher education attainment. Overall, the report find around 16-18% of the labour force holds a stock of high potential green skills, which shows the high degree of transferability in many occupations.
֎ Greening of the Labour Market in Germany
Author/publisher: Bachmann, Janser, Lehmer, Vonnahme / IAB
Publication Date: December 2024
Uses a text-mining approach applied to task descriptions of occupations together with worker-level administrative data, and explores the growth in the greenness of employment in Germany between 2012 and 2022. First, the report demonstrates that the greening of the labour market occurs both through an increase of green tasks and a decrease of brown tasks. Furthermore, the greening of occupations over time (“within-effect”) is at least as important for the overall greening of employment as shifting occupational employment shares (“between-effect”). Second, it shows which occupations and which task types (brown or green) contribute most to the within-effect, and which worker flows are mainly responsible for the between-effect. Third, it investigates individual-level consequences of the greening of employment, and finds that the employment prospects of foreign and of low-skilled workers are most at risk from the green transition, which may therefore increase existing labour market inequalities. Well worth a read, and this area is of interest this earlier paper should be of value.
Employment and Skills Plan Update – Mid Wales
Author/publisher: Mid Wales Regional Skills Partnership
Publication Date: 2024
Useful profiles of the nine priority sectors using Lightcast data but green skills not mentioned despite profiling energy, agriculture, construction, advanced manufacturing, and digital. It would be a great help to everyone if we agreed on a standardised set of definitions to allow the wave of changes impacting the labour market.
Reimagined Degree Map
Author/publisher: Engineers Without Borders UK
Publication Date: 2025
A great resource for anyone wanting to explore how to change curriculum to meet the developing future needs for students. While this one is focused on engineering, the process and methods are applicable elsewhere. Making sure that new graduates are future ready is citical.
RENEW: A Manifesto for Regenerative Design and Engineering
Author/publisher: Centre for Regenerative Design
Publication Date: 2025
Covers the six principles of the Centre: reflective governance; embrace interconnectivity; work as nature; prioritise net positive; cultivate resilience; and transmit. While this is a work in progress, it gives a flavour of the direction of travel in design and engineering—directions we also see from the Design Council and Engineers without Borders.
֎ Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Work
Author/publisher: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
Publication Date: April 2025
A great piece of work with the purpose of assessing the current and future impact of AI on the workforce of the US across sectors from the perspective of economics, productivity, and workforce dimensions. Also looks at workforce risk and the opportunities to influence AI workforce impact. What we find of particular interest is the mapping of work change (and here the report draws on a study across 1940-2018 by Autor and colleagues – see below) and the development of an expertise rubric (see Tables 4.1 and 4.2). We think that understanding the flow of new work and new occupations into the workforce helps with understanding the greening of work.
֎ New Frontiers: The Origins and Content of New Work, 1940–2018
Author/publisher: David Autor et al. / NBER
Publication Date: August 2022
Given the value of this paper, we have reproduced its full abstract here.
We answer three core questions about the hypothesized role of newly emerging job categories (“new work”) in counterbalancing the erosive effect of task-displacing automation on labour demand: what is the substantive content of new work, where does it come from, and what effect does it have on labour demand? We construct a novel database spanning eight decades of new job titles linked to U.S. Census microdata and to patent-based measures of occupations’ exposure to labour-augmenting and labour-automating innovations. The majority of current employment is in new job specialties introduced since 1940, but the locus of new-work creation has shifted from middle-paid production and clerical occupations over 1940–1980 to high-paid professional occupations and secondarily to low-paid services since 1980. New work emerges in response to technological innovations that complement the outputs of occupations and demand shocks that raise occupational demand. Innovations that automate tasks or reduce occupational demand slow new-work emergence. Although the flow of augmentation and automation innovations is positively correlated across occupations, the former boosts occupational labour demand while the latter depresses it. The demand-eroding effects of automation innovations have intensified in the past four decades while the demand-increasing effects of augmentation innovations have not.
Absolutely!
The Geography of Generative AI
Author/publisher: OECD
Publication Date: 2024
Includes extensive coverage of green jobs, finding that that green jobs tend to be concentrated in urban/city regions (especially capital city regions) and towards youth (new entrants as well). It also finds that green tasks (and skills) are widespread across the labour force with around 18% of job holders possessing a significant number of green tasks. But the overall range is large (7% to 35%).
National Careers Week 2025 Report
Author/publisher: National Careers Week
Publication Date: 2025
Shows there is great interest in understanding and exploring careers. NCW is having an impact across all careers, including green ones through its dedicated green careers week (this year is 3rd to 8th November).
What Jobs Are Affected by AI?
Author/publisher: Brookings Institution
Publication Date: 2019
Develops a new approach by combining patent data with job description texts to derive a set of AI exposure scores for all occupations, and finds that most occupations (740 of 769) are exposed. The degree of exposure varies, and there are spatial impacts too. We think the same approach could be adopted to explore the greening of the workforce.
Measuring AI’s Ability to Complete Long Tasks
Author/publisher: METR
Publication Date: March 2025
A powerful and well-constructed paper using a new metric which comes to one possible conclusion—the rate of progress between 2019-2025 of AI is such that a one-month software task will be fully automated in a few years’ time (probably between 2028-2031). The analysis also shows that a Large Language Model’s (LLM) ability to perform a given task is a function not so much of how intellectually challenging the same job would be for you or me, nor of the level of specialised skill required, but of how long it would take a human and how “messy” or structured the workflow. Our interest here is the growing importance of AI in creating and delivering green solutions. Certainly, one to add to our AI and skills library.
Occupational Mobility and Automation
Author/publisher: del Rio-Chanona et al. / Oxford Martin School
Publication Date: 2021
Combines an analysis of the automation of work with the transition of workers impacted into other roles. Our interest here is the potential use of the same model and approach to the greening of work and the forced transitions workers will have to go through at work and between work places and sectors. This group of researchers should be encouraged to undertake such work for the Office for Clean Energy Jobs and Skills England.
Lost in Translation: AI and Foreign Language Skills
Author/publisher: Frey and Llanos-Paredes / University of Oxford
Publication Date: March 2025
As we might expect, there is a direct and negative impact of the growth of AI on translators, and this is demonstrated by a study of 690+ local labour markets in the USA. Our interest here is the potential of AI to have a simpler impact on a series of environmental tasks around monitoring and reporting.
Workforce Development Policy in the U.S.
Author/publisher: Brookings Institution
Publication Date: April 2025
A fascinating document which operates at the federal and state levels (we find case studies of six individual states). Two takeaways for us: firts, the rationale behind state intervention in workforce development; and second, the framework provided to look at key aspects of workforce development policy interventions. It is unclear how what is said here will develop further, given the change in administrations in the United States.
Dependency and Depopulation
Author/publisher: McKinsey Global Institute
Publication Date: January 2025
While work is being impact by the greening of the economy and technology (AI), it is also being hugely shaped by demographics and the long-run shortage of future workers. Of course, national demographics are directly linked to international migration as a potential source of future workers to fill skills shortages. This paper provides a helpful insight into the demographic issues that are already emerging in many western countries.
Devolution and Regional Development
֎ A keynote speech by Andy Burnham, Mayor of Manchester
Institute for Government, April 2025.
Well worth a listen / watch as Andy Burnham reflects on what has been learnt over the last decade, looks forward to the next decade, and then probes the implications for central government. Key for us are his five pillars of shelter, safety, mobility, opportunity and support, focusing on Greater Manchester (the primacy of place) and creating an integrated approach which drives personal growth and development while still recognising the priority sectors in the city (net zero being one of them). We think progress on net zero, which requires a high level of engagement will only occur if we have a placed-based approach and not a partisan, centrally-driven one. We will soon know what the UK Government makes of Manchester’s progress as the city’s submission to the current spending review is arguing the case to build on what has been achieved and to support its continued delivery of growth and social equity.
London Growth Plan
Author/publisher: Mayor of London and London Councils
Publication Date: March 2025
The 10-year growth plan for London from which we pick out two items: first, the green growth part (pages 38-41); and second, the skills development plan (pages 69-74). Plus, the green economy in London is sized at £50bn of which the circular economy is £11bn and set to grow to £24.2bn by 2030. Integrated plans like this show the green economy’s role in driving wider growth and doing so in a sustainable way. Well worth a read as it will shape wider actions and thinking.
Towards Fair Net Zero: UK Industrial Clusters
Author/publisher: IDRIC / University of Exeter, Manchester, Leeds
Publication Date: March 2025
A useful framework is presented here for considering a just transition in a specific place, which builds on three case studies in Scotland (Grangemouth), England (Ellesmere Port) and Wales (Milford Haven). We were surprised the framework developed by the Just Transition Commission was not drawn upon.
A Just Transition for Dumfries and Galloway
Author/publisher: Just Transition Commission (Scotland)
Publication Date: March 2025
Th series of visits by the Just Transition Commission in Scotland to a number of contrasting locations brings home the range of perceptions and differences regarding just transition. Here we see forestry and housing coming to the fore rather than the impact on fossil fuel-based places of work. Several key messages here: the need to have capacity to engage; the need for a true and robust partnership approach; and the centrality of housing (to engagement, to wellbeing, etc.). Highly relevant to all of the UK.
Skills WMW: Employer Skills Report
Author/publisher: Skills WMW / Whitecap Consulting
Publication Date: 2024
A useful regional analysis in which green and sustainability skills are embedded across the priority sectors (construction, engineering and manufacturing, digital and ICT, and logistics and distribution). One core message coming out for us is the need and call for collaboration across the region’s colleges and sectors.
SuperTech ProfTech Research and Innovation Roadmap 2024–2033
Author/publisher: SuperTech WM / Whitecap Consulting
Publication Date: 2024
Develops four themes, one of which is sustainability (the others are productivity, open data, and inclusion and wellness) and walks into smart data, carbon off-sets, circular economy, retrofitting, energy transition, and AI. Professional services are an important part of the emerging green economy, driving growth and forming key parts of local skills and knowledge ecosystems. It would be good to see this analysis extended to cover the whole of the UK.
Unleashing the Potential of Industrial Clusters
Author/publisher: World Economic Forum, Accenture, EPRI
Publication Date: January 2025
Combines spatial and industrial policies searching for growth around three core elements—vision, scale (and scaling), and collaboration. Our interest here is how the various green sectors across the UK could become green clusters of global significance, and this will require capacity and capability to be developed at local levels (more devolution!). Skills are a key part of this and there are some signs this is recognised and being progressed by the larger combined authorities across England.
European Fair Transition Observatory (EFTO)
Author/publisher: European Commission, DG EMPL
Publication Date: 2025
A resource that is coming soon and will be charged with monitoring fair (just) transition progress across the EU. Should provide a useful benchmark for the UK and its variations in embedding just transition into its policies.
North Sea Transition Authority Overview
Author/publisher: North Sea Transition Authority
Publication Date: 2025
The NSTA has been running since 2015 and provides a planned and co-ordinated approach to the transition in the North Sea, ensuring optimised production of oil and gas alongside the development of Hydrogen and Carbon Capture Utilisation, plus the required decommissioning of assets. Jobs and employment do get a mention—200,000 in all—but key to the role of the NSTA is capitalisation on the highly transferable expertise from fossil fuel-based energy towards a fast-growing renewable energy sector.
North East Wales Industrial Decarbonisation Cluster Plan
Author/publisher: Net Zero Industry Wales
Publication Date: 2024
Highlights the significance and extent of the co-ordination across industry groups to deliver decarbonisation (12 groups listed here) with the aim of generating (and part protecting) 19,000 jobs. Includes a useful roadmap.
֎ West Yorkshire Green Technologies & Services Sector Mapping
Author/publisher: Green Economy
Publication Date: September 2024
A deep dive into the green economy of West Yorkshire which has sales of £8.1bn across 3,000 businesses and employs 53,000 people. The green economy of West Yorkshire is dominated by 10 sectors: wind, building technologies, alternative fuelled vehicles, alternative fuels, carbon finance, geothermal, energy from waste, photovoltaic, recovery and recycling, and water and waste-water treatment. Perhaps the surprise sector here is geothermal. It would be good to see this work repeated using information from The Data City to see how dynamic classification and accessing company records could be used.
Greater Manchester's Green Economy
Author/publisher: Green Economy
Publication Date: 2020
Dated but still useful, using KMatrix data and the input of ARUP. Even in 2021, the green economy of Greater Manchester was at £8.6bn across 3,100+ companies and employing more than 58,000 people. With developments in data, it should be possible to have near-real time analyses of the green economy bringing together different data sources.
Reimagining the Electricity Sector in Island Nations
Author/publisher: RMI
Publication Date: March 2025
We include this report for the simple reason that the solutions and approaches described might be relevant to the many small island communities across the UK.
Pot Pourri
IDRIC Frontiers Report: Policy and Governance
Author/publisher: IDRIC / University of Sussex
Publication Date: April 2025
A great pulling together of the 100+ IDRIC projects. Finds a few core themes—coordination, clusters, direction, stability, etc. IDRIC is a great resource and we’re looking forward to a series of forthcoming reports on key decarbonisation topics.
֎ Climate Adaptation Research and Innovation Framework
Author/publisher: UK Government / DSIT
Publication Date: April 2025
This framework seeks to identify the main challenges requiring focused research and innovation to enhance the UK’s ability to adapt to climate change across eleven sectors—nature, working land and sea, food security, water supply, energy, telecoms and IT, transport, town and cities, buildings, health, and business and finance. Each of these sectors are the responsibility of a UK Government Department. Skills hardly get a mention, nor does the Department for Education. It would be useful if this document was “translated” into a skills one by the DfE.
PwC UK Energy Survey 2025
Author/publisher: PwC
Publication Date: February 2025
To make real progress across the private sector, the UK needs businesses to commit and to plan for net zero. Here we see a major jump in the number of businesses committing to net zero by 2030, from 28% to 47%. An increase of this scale drives skills requirements around regulation management and energy efficiency.
UK Net Zero Strategy (2010–2022)
Author/publisher: Sovacool, Iskandarova, Geels / Industrial and Corporate Change
Publication Date: 2024
Tracks the evolution of the UK’s net zero policies through two case studies and shows the cross-linkage to other issues. For us it provides the context into which we see skills policies trying to develop their voices and gain support and funding.
֎ Macroeconomic Implications of Decarbonisation Policies (USA)
Author/publisher: National Academies of Sciences
Publication Date: April 2025
A series of presentations and discussions around the interaction of decarbonisation and the macroeconomy. Highlights the importance of anticipating and addressing unintended consequences, the importance of time and public engagement, and the use of historic parallels. Perhaps there should be a similar discussion between the Treasury and other key government departments, all convened by the Net Zero Council and its delivery partners?
United for Net Zero: Public-Private Collaboration to Accelerate Industry Decarbonisation
Author/publisher: World Economic Forum, Capgemini, Cambridge University
Publication Date: January 2025
As industry is responsible for 30% of all carbon dioxide emissions, ensuring its progress towards net zero is a critical global challenge. This status report is excellent and presents the range of potential policies (Figure 3) and their adoption across the G20 at sector level (Figure 4). The report also identifies a series of opportunities for collaboration (net zero policy design) and a series of case studies. Skills are identified as being a key part of the policy interventions.
Digital Twins – Dynamic Models that Respond to Real-Time Data
Author/publisher: Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST)
Publication Date: April 2025
Digital twins (DT) are critical for energy systems design, development and simulation, and integration in urban areas. DT is a tool to help advance systems design to minimise energy waste and capture.
Sector-Wide Net Zero Plans – Discussion Document
Author/publisher: Broadway Initiative
Publication Date: August 2024
Brings together 11 trade associations and summarises their roadmaps and plans to achieve net zero. Does not cover the skills and jobs element but hopefully these will be added as the plans are developed further.
Delivering Low-Carbon Energy Infrastructure
Author/publisher: Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST)
Publication Date: April 2025
Having a strategic view of infrastructure development for the net zero transition for a new energy system (renewable), and the electrification of transport and heating brings with it major questions over skills, social justice and equity. The huge investment levels need matching with a thick layer of skills, which is partly the role of the Office of Clean Energy Jobs.
Horizon Scanning: Climate Challenges and Opportunities
Author/publisher: Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST)
Publication Date: April 2025
Covers inter-generational justice issues, resourcing, engagement, financing, and health benefits. These and other issues are critical to making lasting progress with the net zero transition, and this calls for wide set of skills across those bodies that are convening and leading local and national climate action.
Climate Adaptation and Resilience – Horizon Scan
Author/publisher: Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST)
Publication Date: April 2025
Charts the inter-connections between adaptation, mitigation and resilience. This is useful, as adaptation tends to be treated as a separate subject and even left aside totally. Many of the skills for adaptation are shared with mitigation.
APAC Cleantech 25
Author/publisher: Cleantech Group
Publication Date: April 2025
A key chart in this report shows the focus areas of investment in Cleantech across Asia Pacific, North America and Europe. The differences are really interesting (and accepting this is one for a single year) and flows through to the skills needed for their scaling and application. A forward indicator of skills demand.
WTO Policy Brief: Leveraging Trade in Environmental Goods
Author/publisher: World Trade Organization
Publication Date: 2022
A rich set of materials here for those trying to understand the potential positive and negative impacts of the current round of tariffs and counter charges. What is clear from this analysis is the rapid growth in the trade in environmental goods and services across the world. We note there is a clear divide between the richer, western nations (70%) and the developing, middle-income countries (30%).
Material World: A substantial story of our past and future
Penguin, Ed Conway, 2023 (book)
In trying to understand key aspects of the development of the steel industry, we turned to Ed Conway’s excellent book. It goes well beyond steel and covers salt, sand, copper, oil and lithium—all building blocks for a future, sustainable economy.
National IRA Rollback Update
Author/publisher: Energy Innovation
Publication Date: March 2025
Retreat from previous policies are costly—very costly. 790,000 jobs in 2030, and a $160bn hit to GDP. What is not factored into this analysis are the wider knock-on effects through reduced demand, say, for solar panels from China, or the loss of skills and expertise that has been developed for wind farms.
Energy
֎ The State of Energy Innovation
Author/publisher: International Energy Agency (IEA)
Publication Date: April 2025
A comprehensive review with deep dives into batteries, the use of AI and energy technology innovation, and carbon dioxide removal. Initially works through the levels and sources of investment, and patenting activity. To see the coverage in the report turn to p. 207 which charts the energy technologies covered. One message we took away from the report was the global spread of the innovations taking place. The UK features repeatedly.
Energy and AI
Author/publisher: International Energy Agency (IEA)
Publication Date: April 2025
A major report showing the convergences and interdependencies between energy AI as regards usage, optimisation and innovation. Skills are seen as a potential barrier to the use of AI within energy, though there is a growing recognition of digital skills in energy roles (see p. 229). Like in many sectors, AI capability will come into the renewable energy sector by a number of routes, including start-ups, professional service businesses, and in-house corporate teams.
Aldersgate Industry Briefing: Industrial Decarbonisation
Author/publisher: Aldersgate Group
Publication Date: April 2025
A helpful context document for us as it maps out industrial strategy and its role in decarbonisation and growth. Figure 1 is a map of the various policy levers, and we also see a listing on one page of the various key bodies/strategies to which others could be added, like the Net Zero Council and its delivery group), the Circular Economy Taskforce, and so on. Skills are placed into a good context, showing how they need to be a part of the thinking as strategies and policies are developed, refined and reviewed.
Global Electricity Review 2025
Author/publisher: Ember
Publication Date: April 2025
This is the 6th edition of this annual review (and the European version was released in January 2025). Shows that nearly 41% of electricity is now from low-carbon sources, and there has been a 30% growth in solar alongside a 4% overall growth in electricity demand (for cooling due to heatwaves). A great reference source.
Energy Management for Energy-Intensive Businesses
Author/publisher: Green Economy
Publication Date: February 2024
Two aspects of this report struck us: first, the total number of energy intensive businesses in England (220,360); and second, the role of engagement leading to skills and then to solutions as illustrated by a series of case studies. It would be good to see an annual survey of these EI businesses to monitor their progress in becoming decarbonised.
Paris Maligned III
Author/publisher: Carbon Tracker Initiative
Publication Date: April 2025
A detailed tracking of 30 of the largest upstream oil and gas producers. Table 1 lists them across six metrics, showing poor to little progress especially on GHGs (but better with methane). It would be good to see what this approach by the oil and gas producers is meaning for recruitment and retention of staff.
Carbon Tariffs 101
Author/publisher: National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)
Publication Date: October 2024
Given the rush of tariffs being introduced by the USA across the world, we wondered if there are any parallels with carbon tariffs (taxes). We think there are, which might suggest there might be some gains globally. But it severely penalises countries during the transition.
Coal
֎ Accelerating Just Transitions for the Coal Sector
Author/publisher: International Energy Agency (IEA)
Publication Date: 2024
A pragmatic report focusing on people and communities. Chapter 4, ‘Policies for people-centred and just transition’ covers the reskilling component and picks out examples in Canada and India. If this is of interest it is worth also looking at the IEA report on skills and inclusivity (September 2022).
Renewables
Renewables 2024
Author/publisher: International Energy Agency (IEA)
Publication Date: October 2024
Two drivers of growth of renewable energy hit us here: Solar and China. China is truly a renewable energy superpower and supplies much of the world with solar panels—and wind turbines. Given the current trade tariffs there must be some impact on the trade in renewable energy technologies and products.
Solar
Embracing the Benefits of Hybrid PV Systems
Author/publisher: SolarPower Europe
Publication Date: March 2025
As we would expect PV systems are moving on. They are starting to be combined with other renewable energy sources and also battery storage, which means full energy capture and continuous energy supply are becomong feasible. This adds to the scale of projects and the skills required. Multiple case studies are provided in this report.
Wind
Global Wind Report 2025
Author/publisher: Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC)
Publication Date: April 2025
Growth and more growth for energy from wind. But capacity building remains key here, and that means skills which get highlighted in India, Saudi Arabia, and the UK (Energy Skills Passport gets a good mention, page 69). Direct jobs to-date from wind is running at 1.5mn. This report was drafted ahead of the trade tariff disputes, which impacts the flow of key wind energy-generating components.
Wind Energy – Powering the Future
Author/publisher: State of Green / Denmark
Publication Date: April 2025
Fop those seeking to understand how wind energy has developed in Denmark, this document is helpful and well-illustrated. Two clear messages emerge from this document (and from our reading over the years): first, the long-term strategic decision the Danish Government took in the early 1970s to transition away from any dependence on oil and gas; and second, Denmark’s whole-supply chain approach across all aspects of the wind energy sector.
Agriculture and Food
Cleantech Global 100: Agriculture & Food Report
Author/publisher: Cleantech Group
Publication Date: January 2025
Keeping a track on the technologies coming into a sector is key to seeing where new developments might emerge. In part we find the granular categories used here helpful—crop monitoring, decision support software, farm management software, robotics and automated vehicles, geospatial imaging and analysis, smart irrigation, soil monitoring, and weather data. When we get down to this of level detail we can see what is being tackled, and from there into the skills and knowledge required. Seeing these companies and their technologies on a simple roadmap would be very helpful for future skills planning.
Brewing Risk and Resilience Report
Author/publisher: 3Keel
Publication Date: April 2025
Shows the dramatic shift in the supply of key inputs into the brewing industry due to climate change, and the need to share knowledge to allow the industry to adjust. A real case study of adaptation, this report shows the need for supply chain cooperation and collaboration.
Cultivated Meat
Author/publisher: Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST)
Publication Date: April 2025
Covers nearly 40 locations across the UK and shows the importance of universities in the development of related products and technology. It’s unclear about future growth though, and employment would seem to be highly technical at this stage (lab based) and very much university dependent.
Circular Economy
Right to Repair Feedback to the ESPR
Author/publisher: Right to Repair Europe
Publication Date: March 2025
A link-rich document (like The Green Edge) which helps us understand the profound changes occurring within the EU around the repair of everyday items, largely electrical items and toys. We see in London, for example, the rapid growth of the circular economy over the next 5 years, so it is becoming more important to fully understand and align with Europe. With this growth comes the need for skills for repair which have been well-noted by the CIWM.
֎ Circular Economy Taskforce Terms of Reference
Author/publisher: UK Government
Publication Date: December 2024
The UK Government set up the CE Taskforce in November 2024, published a set of agreed Terms of Reference, and held its first meeting in February 2025. The Taskforce is expected to deliver by October 2025 to shape the strategy for England and—hopefull—dovetail with the other nations of the UK. Several observations: food and textiles are core to the CE but are not directly represented in the Taskforce; neither is the CIWM (who produced an excellent report in 2024); plus the DfE is not a sponsoring department. We also wonder how this Taskforce links with other agencies, like the Net Zero Council and its delivery group, Skills England, the Office for Clean Energy Jobs (Waste is key feeder into generating energy, for good or bad). Nonetheless, there is an intensive timetable for the Taskforce, and we look forward to seeing its outputs during 2025.
Circular Economy and Sustainable Manufacturing
Author/publisher: Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST)
Publication Date: April 2025
Identifies skills and reskilling as a key area of uncertainty as the move to a circular economy impacts manufacturing and its use of materials, its processes, the extended responsibility of producers etc. The Circular Economy Taskforce in the UK will be tackling this during 2025.
Reuse in the Global South – Case Studies
Author/publisher: WWF and Ellen MacArthur Foundation
Publication Date: March 2025
A great set of case studies, usefully summarised on P. 7, which show what is possible anyway and everywhere with the potential for making circular a real contributor to the local economy.
Circular Food Economy – MOA Framework
Author/publisher: Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development
Publication Date: February 2025
This study is focused on Vancouver, where there is a push for all producers, wholesalers and retailers to be more efficient and to reduce waste. When we get to the last mile for food and enters contact with consumers multiple factors come into play, which continue the high levels of waste. The role of the third sector and local communities become critical as market-based approaches don’t seem to emerge. Supporting and developing the skills in the third sector are therefore crucial here—like we have seen with the Felix Project in London.
Circular Economy and Bioeconomy Governance in Ireland
Author/publisher: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Ireland
Publication Date: March 2025
The opportunity is large and the need is great—in Ireland the circular material use rate is 1.8% and compares abysmally with the EU average of 11.5%. Making a radical shift from how we treat resources is crucial and to align all policies around the core principles. Certainly, one for the Circular Economy Taskforce in England to consider as a part of their work programme throughout 2025.
Construction and Built Environment
Building with Biomass: A New American Harvest
Author/publisher: RMI
Publication Date: April 2025
A cross-cutting project seeking to tackle multiple issues—housing supply (the US needs 4-7mn social houses), rural economic growth, pollution, and biomass to buildings. It’s circular economy in action. Exhibit 6 (page 11) summarises the story well. Uses skills and capabilities that exist already but which, through a joint project, become green ones.
Housing – Demographics and Environmental Trends
Author/publisher: UK Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST)
Publication Date: April 2025
Contains a useful section on “housing and the climate” which provides a good status update across retrofitting and a number of the issues which need to be overcome (in excess of 50 works are drawn up for this section).
Heritage Sector Net Zero Report
Author/publisher: Historic Environment Forum (HEF)
Publication Date: April 2025
Looks at the transition investment required to move to net zero, and finds that skills are key part of the solution. Also finds that there is a need for consistency required around definitions and guidance. Skills are weaved through this report, along with a series of case studies.
Finance
Unlocking UK Pension Capital for Sustainable Growth
Author/publisher: UK Sustainable Investment and Finance Association (UKSIF)
Publication Date: April 2025
The potential here is vast. The unlocking of pension capital for investment of sustainability projects could be a significant way of boosting UK renewables infrastructure and through that boost the demand for skills. This a major focus for the UK Government which hopefully will make progress over the next five years.
Flying Blind: Disabling Autopilot for Audit Reports
Author/publisher: Carbon Tracker Initiative
Publication Date: April 2025
A fascinating—and worrying—study of 140 audit reports which shows that only a few companies (BP, Rio Tinto, Rolls Royce and Shell) fully assess the risk of climate change. Also listed are the four major auditors (EY, Deloitte, KPMG, PwC) and their clients. Without companies building the risks of climate change into their thinking action will be difficult. We would add that BP has switched its strategy yet fully sees the risk of climate change.
Manufacturing
Towards Net-Zero Electronics
Author/publisher: RMI
Publication Date: April 2025
Electronics manufacturing (final assembly-testing-packaging) is responsible for 4% of global carbon dioxide emissions. This report focuses on energy efficiency and optimisation, and retrofitting. The scale of the energy reductions through efficiency actions is vast (30%), and the skills to make this happen are often to be found within a business as an extension to its day-to-day energy management.
Packaging
Reuse by Design – Summary of Discussions
Author/publisher: Innovation Forum
Publication Date: April 2025
A useful workshop involving the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, Heineken, Visa, and Tomra Recycling. Raises the challenges of scaling packaging re-use. Well worth a watch / listen. There is also a written summary of the workshop.
Heat and Retrofit
Testing Coordinated Low-Carbon Heating Offers
Author/publisher: Nesta & Behavioural Insights Team
Publication Date: April 2025
Using data from a survey of 5,500+ homeowners across the UK, this report delves into how best to boost the uptake of low-carbon heating systems. Finds costs are a barrier, there is a need for trusted information, and there is a positive view of coordinated approaches (networks) to those that are shown the improved affordability benefits. Our interest here is in the skills needed to overcome the reluctance of homeowners to replace their gas boilers (in the main) with heat pumps, and the difficulty of selling more expensive heating solutions.
Home Electrical Installation Upgrades – Zero-Emission Readiness
Author/publisher: International Copper Association Europe / EuropeOn
Publication Date: December 2024
A helpful guide (with a set of standards) for anyone wanting to understand the critical nature of domestic electrical infrastructure and what this means in detail. Given the details provided, the guide also helps to identify the skills and knowledge required to upgrade domestic electrical (and related) systems.
Steel
Boston Metal Global Fact Sheet 2024
Author/publisher: Boston Metal
Publication Date: December 2024
We don’t normally list company brochures, but we thought this one was of particular interest given the importance of steel as an anchor sector to many economies. Boston Metal is seeking to scale a process which could allow steel to be produced while remaining largely sustainable.
Why the UK Needs a Strong Steel Sector
Author/publisher: UK Steel
Publication Date: October 2023
For those following the recent developments in the UK’s steel industry, this fact-based report is useful, providing the context, current operations and the rationale for steel as a strategic sector both now and within a low-carbon economy—along with the skills and jobs required.
Transport
Cleantech Global 100: Transportation & Logistics Report
Author/publisher: Cleantech Group
Publication Date: January 2025
It’s useful to see the trends in the technologies attracting investment to underpin the wide range of demands of the transport sector to decarbonise and largely electrify. Granular data is helpful to see the momentum behind specific sectors and sub-sectors as they are the lead indicators for future skills and knowledge.
Automotive
Trade in Transition: Sector Insights – Automotive
Author/publisher: Economist Impact
Publication Date: 2025
A useful, short briefing on the major transitions in the automotive sector as it moves to EV technologies, re-integration and local production. Highlights the pioneering role of BYD, CATL and Tesla. In skills and employment terms these shifts have a massive impact as 8+mn people are employed directly across the global auto sector, with a further 40+mn employed indirectly.
Maritime
֎ Navigating Tomorrow – Skills Training for the Maritime Sector
Author/publisher: South Devon College
Publication Date: April 2025
A gold nugget of a report, full of critical information about the changing nature of propulsion in the maritime sector. We would make two points: first, the role FE colleges play at a national level and the leadership role they can play (here South Devon College); and second, the crossover and learning from other sectors (here from automotive). Well worth a read. Will be driven by the recent IMO decisions (see below). For those who are interested, there is also the Ship Energy Summit in Barcelona (June 11th-12th).
Circular Letter No.5005 – Draft Revised MARPOL Annex VI
Author/publisher: International Maritime Organization (IMO)
Publication Date: April 2025
This might sound like an esoteric document and decision, but it is potentially one that will impact virtually all shipping and ports across the world as shipping companies start the process of decarbonising their operations. This will require new handling capabilities on shore and also at sea if the chosen fuel is, for example, ammonia. In the UK we expect to see the major ports working through their own approaches alongside the shipping companies retrofitting their vessels. One to be monitored.
Future Fuels Trial & Demonstration Plan
Author/publisher: Connected Places Catapult
Publication Date: 2025
Developing a cooperative ecosystem to support the adjustment of the maritime sector is a critical part of the net zero transition. This plan is for the Liverpool City Region, and given further impetus with the IMO decision (see above) and the UK’s maritime decarbonisation strategy.
National Shipbuilding Office Playbook
Author/publisher: National Shipbuilding Office
Publication Date: November 2025
The maritime sector, and shipbuilding in particular, is going through many changes as it seeks to decarbonise its fuel inputs. This transition impacts current vessels (needing retrofitting), new vessels, and all ports. Here the role of key centres is explored as a means for boosting innovation, productivity improvement, skills development, and general technology awareness and uptake. Our take on this is the importance of centres supporting the greening of key sectors that lack major players driving sector-wide solutions.
Leading Maritime Cities 2024
Author/publisher: Menon Economics & DNV
Publication Date: January 2024
London ranks 3rd across the world here, and leads the field in legal expertise, insurance, finance (including sustainable finance), and maritime education. The last crown is important when it comes to green skills for maritime and the role played by the UK—this is recognised in the UK’s maritime decarbonisation strategy.
UK Maritime Decarbonisation Strategy & Analytical Annex
Author/publisher: Department for Transport
Publication Date: March 2025
Shipping is at a tipping point as it starts the decarbonisation of most major vessels. When we consider the shift from single skin to double skin hulls for oil tankers took about 20 years (the major shift happened in the first 10 years), the energy transition could move a lot quicker as it involves both retrofit and new build vessels. This year the IMO will decide in April how to make progress (and what rules to adopt) with full ratification planned for October. The opportunity for the UK is great given its position in world shipping and the ability to provide the skills for innovation. This strategy builds on this message and green skills are noted (pages 77-78). There is also an extensive technical appendix linked to the strategy.