Sustainability LIVE: Net Zero – The Green Skills Gap
Sandhya Sabapathy took to the stage at Sustainability LIVE: Net Zero to highlight one of the most urgent yet overlooked challenges in sustainability – the transition to a net zero workforce.
With green jobs growing rapidly but skilled professionals in short supply, she called for immediate action to bridge the gap.
The workforce challenge in the net zero transition
"We all know we need to transition to a net zero economy," Sabapathy began.
"But what we’re not talking about enough is how we transition to a net zero workforce."
Drawing parallels with the Industrial Revolution, she described how workers in the 19th century had to adapt or risk becoming obsolete.
"Fast forward to 2025, and we’re at another turning point. But this time, it’s not coal and steel reshaping industries – it’s climate action, decarbonisation and green technology."
The scale of the challenge is immense. According to LinkedIn’s 2024 Green Skills Report, the global economy will need twice as many people with green skills by 2050 as it has today. However, green jobs are growing at 8% per year, while the supply of skilled workers is only increasing at 6%.
"If we don’t close this gap, businesses won’t decarbonise fast enough – not because they don’t want to, but because they don’t have the right people," she warned.
The economic and business risks of inaction
Sabapathy outlined the risks of failing to train enough workers for the green economy:
- Jobs will go elsewhere – Countries investing in green skills will dominate sectors like clean energy, green finance and climate tech, while others fall behind.
- Business costs will rise – Companies will be forced to compete for a limited pool of talent, increasing hiring costs and delaying projects.
- Net zero targets will be missed – Without skilled professionals, decarbonisation efforts will stall, jeopardising 2030 and 2050 climate goals.
She cited the offshore wind sector as a prime example. Investment is surging, yet 60% of wind industry employers report struggling to find enough skilled workers.
"It takes 5 to 10 years to train a wind energy technician or engineer. We don’t have that kind of time to waste," she said.
Green skills: Not just for sustainability professionals
One of the biggest misconceptions, Sabapathy argued, is that green jobs are only for sustainability officers, climate scientists or engineers installing solar panels.
"Green skills are becoming as fundamental as digital skills," she said. "Soon, they’ll be essential for almost every job."
She outlined how green skills are reshaping multiple industries:
- Finance – ESG-linked finance is already worth $50 trillion globally, and CFOs must now integrate sustainability into financial risk assessments.
- Supply chains and operations – Over 70% of a company’s carbon footprint typically comes from its supply chain, requiring procurement teams to factor sustainability into purchasing decisions.
- Tech and data science – AI and cloud computing are being used to track carbon emissions, optimise energy use and reduce environmental impact.
"Think about digital literacy in the 1990s. At first, only IT professionals needed computer skills. Now, digital skills are essential for almost every job. Green skills will follow the same path," she predicted.
Building the workforce of the future
To close the green skills gap, Sabapathy called for action in three areas:
- Faster upskilling – Training workers at speed to meet demand.
- Targeted hiring – Actively developing talent rather than waiting for the "perfect" sustainability professional.
- A stronger education pipeline – Embedding sustainability into school curricula, university degrees, and apprenticeships now – not in 10 years.
"Right now, too many green skills programmes are either too slow, too expensive or too disconnected from industry needs," she warned.
"If we wait until people enter the workforce to teach them sustainability skills, we’ve already failed."
She called for a rapid scale-up of short, industry-led training programmes, including certifications, micro-credentials and apprenticeships to get people into green jobs quickly.
The evolving role of sustainability leadership
Sabapathy also addressed the increasing complexity of sustainability leadership, particularly the role of the CSO.
"A decade ago, sustainability leaders focused on compliance and CSR. Today, the CSO is a business strategist, a financial expert, a supply chain manager and an innovation driver – all in one," she said.
However, this growing responsibility comes at a cost. Many sustainability professionals feel overwhelmed, with shifting regulations, skills shortages and investor pressure making their roles more demanding than ever.
"The modern CSO has no single roadmap. Every company, every industry, every regulation is evolving in real time," she noted.
She closed her session with an interactive pledge, encouraging the audience to embrace their role in shaping the workforce of the future:
"We are the builders of a sustainable future. We will learn, innovate and lead – not just for profit, but for the planet. Our skills will heal industries, restore nature and shape a thriving tomorrow. Because the future is not written yet. We are writing it."
As the session wrapped up, Sabapathy left attendees with a powerful message:
"Sustainability isn’t just a job – it’s a vocation. And if we don’t act now, we’ll still be talking about skills shortages in 2040. We simply cannot afford to wait."
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