Careers in Renewable Energy Software and Technology

Today I have been asking myself the question: What if we're solving the wrong problem - chasing AI disruption while the real opportunity for human flourishing lies in the green economy? AI is getting all the headlines, but here's what the data actually shows: 🔹 AI impact: Creates 11M jobs, displaces 9M → Net gain: 2M jobs 🔹 Green transition: Creates 34M jobs with minimal displacement That's a 17:1 ratio in favor of green jobs. 🤯 Yet 90% of workforce discussions focus on AI disruption while climate jobs barely make the news. Why this massive disconnect? ✅ AI grabs attention - ChatGPT created immediate, visible change ✅ Green jobs seem gradual - but they're happening faster than we think ✅ Tech giants drive the narrative - while green jobs are distributed across industries ✅ 40% of employers expect AI workforce reductions - creating immediate anxiety The reality check: 1.2 billion jobs depend on healthy ecosystems Green jobs are harder to automate Climate action is literally existential Green skills show 22% growth in job postings vs 12% in available workers. Our future depends on our ability to close this gap. For professionals: While everyone's learning prompt engineering, there's a massive opportunity to apply YOUR existing skills to green roles: 🌱 Accountants → Carbon accounting & green finance 🌱 Teachers → Sustainability training & green skills education 🌱 IT professionals → Energy management systems & smart grids 🌱 Recruiters → Green talent acquisition (fastest growing field!) 🌱 Project managers → Renewable energy projects 🌱 Sales/Marketing → Clean tech & sustainable products ... and many more Maybe we should focus our upskilling efforts where the real job growth is happening? What do you think - are we chasing AI shiny objects while missing the green goldmine? Data sources: World Economic Forum Future of Jobs Report 2025, International Labour Organization, Manpower Global insights sustainability and the rise of green and turquoise jobs

𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐡 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬, 𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐬𝐢𝐚. 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐛𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦. We wrote an South China Morning Post SCMP letter to emphasize important points for students and early-career professionals, along with Qihan Geng and Thibaud Voïta, Ph.D. 🛢️ Fossil fuels still hold power in many regions. Yet despite the noise, our energy system and the world are shifting. 👉 Last year, renewable energies created 8.4 million jobs while fossil fuels lost 2.7 million. 👉 Asia represents two-thirds of global clean energy jobs, with China accounting for 46%, totaling 7.4 million people! The sector demands a broad and growing workforce beyond engineering roles. 1️⃣ Energy transitions unfold through vast industrial ecosystems, contributing to job creation in areas like program management, marketing, and business development. 2️⃣ There are opportunities in roles not directly related to projects. In China, over 450 A-share listed companies, accounting for 51% of market capitalization, must follow new sustainability reporting guidelines set by the Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Beijing stock exchanges. Evolving regulations are fueling demand for ESG and compliance professionals, with growing opportunities for analysts, advisors, and sustainability officers. To take advantage of these opportunities: 👉 A technical background helps, but it’s no longer the barrier it once was. Industry-specific certifications and basic familiarity with emerging technologies can go a long way. 👉 People remain at the center of the transition, and soft skills like communication, adaptability, and collaboration are best developed through real-world experience (internships, volunteering, freelance projects). 👉 The sector, once male-dominated, is becoming more inclusive in terms of gender and professional background. 🔑 Energy transitions offer growth potential. To succeed, proactive career strategies are essential. Career opportunities are defined by unconventional moves such as reskilling and upskilling! 📍 For these reasons, we created the new MSc - Management of Energy Transitions. Link below for more info! Nikola Zivlak William-HUA Wang Marion Lempereur Emeline Santoulangue

🌱 climate-change mitigation is now the third-most transformative trend for business, with 47% of employers expecting it to reshape their operations and drive demand for green jobs by 2030. 📌 how organizations are creating new roles in renewable energy and environmental stewardship and the upskilling that powers the transition 🍀 the global push to reduce carbon emissions and adapt to climate change is fundamentally reshaping the labor market. employers are not only investing in sustainable practices but also creating a surge in demand for new roles focused on renewable energy and environmental stewardship. ☘️ key developments: 🌳 emergence of green roles: roles such as renewable energy engineers, environmental engineers, and electric and autonomous vehicle specialists are among the 15 fastest-growing jobs worldwide. these positions are directly driven by increased efforts and investments to reduce carbon emissions and adapt to climate change. 🌲 environmental stewardship skills on the rise: for the first time, environmental stewardship has entered the list of top 10 fastest-growing skills. this reflects a broader shift in employer priorities, with sustainability and climate literacy becoming core competencies across sectors from manufacturing and energy to agriculture and infrastructure. 🌵 upskilling initiatives: despite a 12% global increase in workers acquiring green skills between 2022 and 2023, demand continues to outpace supply. the number of job postings requiring at least one green skill rose by nearly 22% over the same period. To bridge this gap, organizations are prioritizing upskilling and reskilling: 85% of employers plan to prioritize upskilling their workforce, with a significant focus on sustainability and green technologies. Training programs include technical certifications in renewable energy systems, environmental impact assessment, and sustainable supply chain management1. 🌾 sector examples: 🍄 energy & utilities: companies are creating new jobs in solar and wind installation, battery storage, and grid modernization. 🍄 automotive: the shift to electric vehicles is generating demand for specialists in battery technology and sustainable materials. 🍄 agriculture: sustainable farming practices are driving new roles in regenerative agriculture and environmental monitoring