C 184/14
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
25.5.2023
1.9.
In order to equip workers, both younger and older, with enabling skills to govern the innovation brought about by the green transition, the EESC believes it is important to invest in work-based learning and to promote on-the-job training and quality internships and apprenticeships that are capable of creating a virtuous dialogue between market needs and the individual skills of young people.
Social dialogue and collective bargaining can play a key role in this regard. 1.10.
The EESC considers it essential to have holistic training policies that are integrated with industrial policies, coordinated with other development strategies, and planned in detail at territorial and local level, in close connection with the social partners, so as to ensure that the green transition is a just transition that leaves no one behind. 1.11.
In order to ensure adequate participation of women in sectors linked to the green transition, the EESC believes that gender equality must be an integral part of the green transition.
The Member States should invest more resources in careers guidance for young people at school and in supporting them into work through efficient public employment services that are adequately linked to the productive fabric of the territory. 1.12.
Young entrepreneurs can play an important role in the development of innovation, including in the field of the green transition.
The EESC believes that these young people need to be encouraged through specific training and support for innovative projects, and by ensuring adequate financial support. 1.13.
To ensure that the green transition is also a just transition and that company closures with subsequent job losses are avoided, the EESC considers it a priority for the Member States to invest significant resources, starting with those of the National Recovery and Resilience Plans, in supporting businesses that need to convert their activities, in redeploying workers who have been made redundant, and in supporting entrepreneurs, particularly young entrepreneurs, who intend to invest in green businesses.
2.
Background to the opinion 2.1.
This exploratory opinion was requested by the Swedish presidency of the Council of the EU in order to investigate young people’s role in the green transition. 2.2.
‘Green transition’ refers to the transition of the EU economy and society towards the achievement of climate and environmental goals mainly through policies and investments, in line with the European Climate Act, which sets an obligation to achieve climate neutrality by 2050, the European Green Deal, and the Paris Agreement, ensuring that the transition is just and inclusive for all. 2.3.
In the face of these great challenges, it is important to note that the generation that is most sensitive and aware of the need to act in order to achieve environmental sustainability is precisely that of young people.
In fact, if there is one issue today that is capable of creating a virtuous link between the sensitivity and values of young people and the open questions of our time, with high innovative potential when it comes to production and consumption models, it is that of the environment, the promotion of health, and the safeguarding of the planet’s biodiversity. 2.4.
In recent years, climate action has mobilised a large number of young people across Europe and numerous environmental and social movements have grown up at territorial, national and European levels, made up of young people demonstrating and demanding tangible measures from governments and policy-makers to protect the environment and achieve climate neutrality. 2.5.
The year 2022 was declared the European Year of Youth not only to celebrate and support young people, the generation most adversely affected by the pandemic, by instilling in them new hope, strength and faith in the future, but also as an opportunity to highlight how the green and digital transition offers new prospects and opportunities.
3.
Youth involvement in the green transition 3.1.
In order to achieve a just green transition, the implementation of the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through the European Green Deal is necessary, including by implementing a new governance model that is more inclusive and capable of actively involving young people in decision-making processes. 3.2.
The decisions that political leaders take today on climate change and other environmental issues will have repercussions on today’s young and future generations in particular.
Young people have a right to have a say on the issues that affect them, as stated in the 2030 Agenda, which recognises young people as ‘crucial agents of change’ within its SDGs.