IEMA has today welcomed the launch of the European Commission's Green Employment Initiative.

Commenting on the announcement, Martin Baxter, Executive Director of Policy & Engagement at the Institute of Environmental Management & Assessment (IEMA) said this morning:

“We fully support the Commission’s aim to ‘tap into the job creation potential of the green economy’. The transition to a resource efficient and sustainable economy requires organisations and individuals with the skills and capability to tackle global challenges such as resource availability and climate change. This needs to be mainstreamed across the whole economy if businesses are to remain competitive.”

The Commission’s Communication, released today, highlights that a wholesale shift towards a green and resource-efficient economy is an absolute necessity for the future success of Europe and the achievement of its Europe 2020 Strategy. The statement also says that transitioning to a circular economy provides an “opportunity for creating high quality environmentally-friendly jobs, while securing the sustainable well-being of future generations and contributing to recovery from the economic crisis”.

With IEMA’s acquisition of the Global Association of Corporate Sustainability Officers (GACSO) earlier this year, IEMA is working to develop the sustainability profession as such roles continue to gain prominence and influence. “Ensuring that sustainability skills are central, not parallel, to this new initiative will help Europe to achieve its targets at the same time as strengthening the Environment & Sustainability profession,” said Martin Baxter.

Wednesday 2nd July 2014