Guest blog by Mattie Yeta, Chief Sustainability Officer, CGI UK & Australia at CGI.
Unlocking the green revolution: Why green skills are the key to a sustainable future
The global economy is on track to grow 16-fold by 2100. However, this growth must align with the urgent need for climate adaptation and sustainability. For the UK, this requires a transformative shift across businesses, industries, and communities. At the heart of this transition lies green skills—the expertise needed not only to reduce emissions and biodiversity loss but also to adapt to a changing climate and build resilience into the UK’s economy and infrastructure.
Green skills encompass a broad range of competencies, including renewable energy expertise, climate and nature risk management, and green IT. Far beyond an instrument for meeting climate targets, these skills are essential for ensuring the UK can respond to the wider societal challenges. However, a significant skills gap threatens to slow progress. In the UK, more than 200,000 skilled workers are urgently needed to meet the demands of the green economy, and globally, just 1 in 8 workers possess at least one green skill.
Green skills as the foundation for economic resilience
Green skills enable organisations and individuals to address sustainability challenges and seize opportunities in the green economy. These skills fall into three main categories:
Soft skills: non-technical abilities like adaptability, collaboration, and problem-solving that are critical for navigating the evolving demands of green industries.
Cross-sectoral skills: Knowledge that applies across industries, such as environmental impact assessments, sustainability reporting, and climate risk management.
Sector-specific skills: Technical expertise in areas like hydrogen fuel cells, carbon capture, solar energy design, and other emerging green technologies.
Developing these skills is vital to meet net-zero goals and also to create new opportunities in renewable energy, sustainable infrastructure, and ethical business practices.
The green skills gap: a growing challenge
The transition to a sustainable future faces a significant hurdle in the form of a widening green skills gap. Green jobs currently account for just 30% of UK job postings according to a recent LinkedIn study, and the shortage of qualified professionals spans multiple sectors, including construction, utilities, technology, and finance.
The UK needs over 400,000 skilled workers to support new energy sectors, yet there remains a substantial shortfall. Without urgent action, this gap could hinder the development of critical industries, delay sustainability efforts, and limit the ability to achieve climate goals.
Opportunities for businesses and individuals
For businesses, the transition to a sustainable economy is more than a challenge—it’s an opportunity to lead innovation. Green sectors are growing rapidly, with fields like corporate sustainability and climate action planning seeing exponential demand. The tech industry, has a pivotal role to play, from driving green IT solutions to fostering workforce transformation through upskilling programmes.
Recommendations to close the gap
The techUK and CGI IT UK Ltd report highlights actionable steps to bridge the green skills gap:
Invest in targeted training programs to equip employees with green expertise. Businesses like CGI IT UK Ltd are already leading the way by launching initiatives such as ethical business forums and green sector training.
With over 794,000 young people in the UK not in education, employment, or training, accessible pathways into green careers are essential. Engaging young talent can address skill shortages while tackling youth unemployment.
Organisations must assess future skills requirements and align workforce development strategies to meet them. Building a sustainability mindset within teams and communities will be critical to success.
Green skills are the foundation of a sustainable, thriving economy. Organisations, governments, and individuals must act to invest in training, empower communities, and prepare for the future. Addressing the green skills gap is not just about meeting climate goals—it’s about creating jobs, unlocking economic growth, and building a better future for all.
Explore the full report to learn how green skills can transform industries, foster innovation, and empower the workforce of the future.
Climate, Environment and Sustainability Programme activities
The techUK Climate Programme provides opportunities for members to present tech solutions that assist carbon emission reduction, circularity, and human rights goals. We also help our members with their own net zero transition, including measurement, implementation, compliance, and reporting. Visit the programme page here.
Our 2025 work programme for the Climate, Environment and Sustainability Programme - get involved!
Get involved with our sustainability work in 2025!
As 2024 turns in to 2025 we are really excited to share the work programme for our sustainability programme. The below sets out our focus areas, working groups and programme outline as well as events/webinars and we'd love to get you involved.
Our members develop strong networks, build meaningful partnerships and grow their businesses as we all work together to create a thriving environment where industry, government and stakeholders come together to realise the positive outcomes tech can deliver.
Associate Director for Climate, Environment and Sustainability, techUK
Craig Melson
Associate Director for Climate, Environment and Sustainability, techUK
Craig is Associate Director for Climate, Environment and Sustainability and leads on our work in these areas ranging from climate change, ESG disclosures and due diligence, through to circular economy, business and human rights, conflict minerals and post-Brexit regulation.
Prior to joining techUK he worked in public affairs and policy has an avid interest in new and emerging technologies. Craig has a degree in Ancient History from King’s College London and spends his time watching Watford FC and holding out hope for Half Life 3.
Josh joined techUK as a Programme Manager for Telecoms and Net Zero in August 2024.
In this role, working jointly across the techUK Telecoms and Climate Programmes, Josh is responsible for leading on telecoms infrastructure deployment and uptake and supporting innovation opportunities, as well as looking at how the tech sector can be further utilised in the UK’s decarbonisation efforts.
Prior to joining techUK, Josh’s background was in public affairs and communications, working for organisations across a diverse portfolio of sectors including defence, telecoms and infrastructure; aiding clients through stakeholder engagement, crisis communications, media outreach as well as secretariat duties.
Outside of work, Josh has a keen interest in music, painting and sailing.
Alec joined techUK in 2025 as the Programme Manager for Sustainability within the Climate, Environment, and Sustainability Programme.
In his role, he helps lead on key sustainability and climate topics, including ESG disclosures, supply chain due diligence, human rights, e-waste, biodiversity, and the move to the circular economy. He also supports data centre members with sustainability challenges.
Prior to joining techUK, he worked as a policy staffer for a United States Senator. He is a graduate of the London School of Economics and Political Science and SUNY Geneseo. Outside of work, he enjoys playing sports, going to the movies, and travelling.
Programme Assistant, Data Centres, Climate, Environment and Sustainability, Market Access, techUK
Lucas Banach
Programme Assistant, Data Centres, Climate, Environment and Sustainability, Market Access, techUK
Lucas Banach is Programme Assistant at techUK, he works on a range of programmes including Data Centres; Climate, Environment & Sustainability; Market Access and Smart Infrastructure and Systems.
Before that Lucas who joined in 2008, held various roles in our organisation, which included his role as Office Executive, Groups and Concept Viability Administrator, and most recently he worked as Programme Executive for Public Sector. He has a postgraduate degree in International Relations from the Andrzej Frycz-Modrzewski Cracow University.
