The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) has joined the #GreenSkillsAtCop campaign, highlighting the critical shortage of green-skilled workers in the construction industry ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan this November.
Initiated by the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment, the campaign advocates for the integration of green skills into national action plans for biodiversity and climate change.
The CIOB’s participation aims to draw attention to the pressing need for sustainable practices in the built environment sector.
Amanda Williams, head of environmental sustainability at CIOB, emphasised the importance of addressing the green skills gap: “Addressing the significant green skills gap will be essential in creating a more sustainable built environment.
“By joining the #GreenSkillsAtCop campaign, we hope to encourage the government to give proper focus to the issues the industry is facing and to put measures in place to address the deficit.”
The scale of the challenge is substantial.
CIOB estimates that approximately 500,000 additional workers in skilled trades are required in the UK alone to bring the national housing stock up to a minimum energy efficiency standard of EPC C by 2030.
This aligns with global trends, as the World Green Building Council has identified the lack of trained green building professionals as a significant barrier to sustainable building practices worldwide.
To address this shortage, the CIOB has called for the introduction of a green construction skills fund.
This fund would finance training in crucial areas such as retrofit, heat pump installation, sustainable modern methods of construction (MMC), and specialist roles to meet the requirements of biodiversity net gain legislation.
The CIOB’s involvement in the campaign comes at a critical time, with COP29 set to take place in Baku, Azerbaijan, from November 11 to 22, 2024.
The conference will serve as a key platform for shaping international climate policy and discussing global efforts to combat climate change.
As the construction industry plays a significant role in global emissions, with the built environment responsible for nearly 40 per cent of energy-related CO2 emissions, addressing the green skills gap is crucial for accelerating the transition to a net-zero future.
The CIOB’s participation in COP29 and its support for the #GreenSkillsAtCop campaign underscore the urgent need for action in developing a workforce equipped to meet the challenges of sustainable construction.