Strengthening and developing green skills in Lithuania in response to the needs of the green economy

Problem

In the context of a changing climate, the transition to a sustainable economy is inevitable. As part of the European Green Deal, the European Union (EU) aims to become a climate-neutral continent by 2050.

Skills policy in Europe

It is estimated that by 2030, 2.5 million new jobs will be created, with at least 60% of all adults needing to undergo training each year. The International Labour Organization emphasizes the importance of general skills, which include not only environmental awareness and knowledge of new sustainable technologies, but also the integration of sustainability into areas such as occupational safety, entrepreneurship, resilience, teamwork, a willingness to learn, and cooperation. As a result of the green transition, new professions are emerging, while traditional professions are being transformed.

The EU’s industrial strategy, which addresses the dual challenges of digital and green transformation, is closely aligned with the objectives of the European Green Deal (the “twin transition”). A range of measures has been proposed to support this dual transformation. For example, the Skills Agenda for Europe, adopted in 2020, emphasizes the importance of forecasting competencies and future skills. Additionally, in 2021, a roadmap for the EU’s digitalization path was approved, with one of its goals being that 80% of adults will possess at least basic digital skills by 2030. Given that the digital and green transitions are inherently linked, this highlights the complexity of the emerging “green” professions.

The EU’s Circular Economy Action Plan aims to modernize and transform the economy while protecting the environment. It promotes incentives for waste-free production, the circulation of closed-loop material flows, and the development of business symbioses. The areas with the greatest potential for circularity include batteries and transport, construction and buildings, plastics, electronics, textiles, and food products. The skills of employees involved in these various activities and stages of the circular economy, along with their training and the development of relevant competencies, are of paramount importance.

The green transition is also closely tied to sustainability competencies. The European Framework of Excellence for Sustainability, GreenComp, outlines a wide range of skills, from environmental awareness to the ability to apply sustainable solutions across various sectors of life and work.

According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), one of the most significant challenges amid these changes is the development of green skills. The demand for these skills is growing rapidly as the labour market evolves, new professions emerge, and additional requirements are placed on existing roles.

Challenges in Lithuania

Lithuania’s accession to the European Green Deal initiative is driving significant changes aimed at promoting green growth and creating new job opportunities. This shift has led to an increased demand for specialists with expertise in renewable energy, environmental engineering, and other related fields.

The country is witnessing various initiatives to support the implementation of the European Green Deal. For example, the Ministry of Education, Science, and Sport has updated 95 vocational education and training (VET) programs, while universities and colleges are incorporating sustainability concepts into their curricula or developing specialized programs focused on sustainability (e.g., VilniusTech, Kaunas University of Technology, Kaunas University of Applied Sciences). The Bank of Lithuania is also promoting green finance to support sustainable development. Moreover, the National Energy and Climate Plan, one of Lithuania’s key strategic documents, outlines actions for the coming decade that aim to advance progress in the economic, social, security, and environmental sectors.

Despite Lithuania’s ambitious renewable energy goals, there is a shortage of qualified specialists capable of implementing these projects. At the same time, many workers in traditional industries lack the necessary knowledge and skills to adapt to the integration of green technologies. Additionally, there is a lack of comprehensive data on the current and future demand for specialists in other sectors.

The development of green skills is a critical factor for successfully transitioning to a sustainable economy. However, despite their recognized importance, the education and development of green skills face several challenges: there is no clear, widely accepted classification of green skills applicable across different sectors and professions; it is difficult to assess employees’ existing green skills and identify the additional training required; there is a lack of comprehensive research to assess the demand for green skills across different sectors and regions of Lithuania’s economy.

These challenges may stem from the fragmented nature of Lithuania’s education system, where decisions are made vertically and implemented centrally, with limited horizontal cooperation in decision-making and responsibility-sharing. For instance, if Lithuania intends to significantly enhance the green skills of its workforce, the Government and relevant ministries would need to approve multiple separate programs with distinct measures and potential providers. Furthermore, in the current system, progress is often contingent on whether green skills development is prioritized by the sitting government, which may be influenced by political goals, programmatic provisions of governing parties, or international benchmarks. As a result, achieving Lithuania’s 2050 goals will require a comprehensive approach that involves educating all segments of society and strategically advancing green policies.

In this context, it is essential to develop effective green skills training programs at all levels of education to address contemporary challenges and enable Lithuanian citizens to successfully integrate into the evolving labour market.

The aim of this project is to develop recommendations for promoting the development of green skills in response to the demands of the green economy.

Participants

2024/25

Lijana Dienaitė

2024/25

Jovita Mincevičiūtė