Various professions within the public sector play a crucial role in aiding the adjustment to climate change
The Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB), the Society for Economic Structure Research (GWS), and the Institute for Ecological Economy Research (IÖW) have carried out a significant research project on behalf of the German Environmental Agency (Umweltbundesamt). The study, conducted in Berlin, identified 21 professional groups that are particularly relevant for adapting to climate change.
These groups cover a broad spectrum of sectors where adaptation measures are critical, including municipal and regional planning, civil engineering and construction, water management and treatment, agriculture and forestry, environmental and nature conservation, energy supply and infrastructure, health and social services, disaster management and civil protection, transportation and logistics, insurance and risk assessment, education and training, tourism and recreation, waste management, research and development, real estate and housing, meteorology and climate services, manufacturing and industry, food processing, legal and regulatory professions, finance and economic consulting, communication and public relations.
The study's focus was on identifying where climate adaptation skills are or will be needed, thus guiding vocational training and professional development to better respond to climate-related challenges. The authors suggest sensitizing professional actors and providing them with opportunities to develop action spaces in workshops or specialist events for integrating climate adaptation competencies.
To achieve this, the authors recommend modernizing training and further training regulations for integrating climate adaptation competencies. They also suggest considering the specific conditions of a profession, such as the compulsory inter-company training (UBA) in some professions, for integrating climate adaptation competencies.
Personal competencies for climate adaptation include interdisciplinary cooperation, consultation and communication, data exchange and digitalization, critical thinking and reflection of existing rules, a basic understanding of 'sustainability' and climate change adaptation, and crisis response capability.
The Environmental Agency announced the results of the research project, emphasizing its significance in addressing the relevance of certain professional groups in adapting to climate change. The agency encourages vocational institutions to review the study's findings and incorporate climate adaptation competencies into their training programmes.
If you need the exact German titles or a more specific listing, accessing the study’s full report or summary from the German Environmental Agency or BIBB would be necessary. The study provides valuable insights into the roles that various professions can play in addressing climate change and adapting to its impacts.
The study conducted in Berlin by the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB), the Society for Economic Structure Research (GWS), and the Institute for Ecological Economy Research (IÖW) has highlighted the importance of specific professional groups in adapting to climate change, such as environmental and nature conservation, climate services, and finance and economic consulting. To better respond to climate-related challenges, vocational training and professional development should be guided towards integrating climate adaptation competencies, as suggested by the authors. This includes interdisciplinary cooperation, data exchange and digitalization, critical thinking, a basic understanding of sustainability and climate change adaptation, and crisis response capability. The German Environmental Agency (Umweltbundesamt) encourages vocational institutions to review the study's findings and incorporate climate adaptation competencies into their training programs.
