green skills
Green Skills
Today, we are experiencing unpredictable weather
conditions due to climatic changes and environmental
deterioration. Deterioration of the environment through
depletion of resources, such as air, water and soil is
taking place globally. Whether we work in a factory or
in field, we need to be aware of the factors and systems
that can be harmful to the environment. We must
adopt practices that are environment friendly and avoid
using processes that will harm our surroundings. For
example, pollution is a major problem in most cities.
We can check the rising pollution levels only if we are
aware of the various ways of controlling and minimising
it. We can plant trees near our houses, and use an
eco-friendly mode of transport, such as bicycle, electric
car, etc. We can take care of our environment in many
ways. For example, we must not leave the tap running
while brushing our teeth, use the leftover water in our
bottles for watering plants, use cloth bags instead of
plastic bags, buy eco-friendly products and reduce the
usage of paper.
Using non-toxic and natural products
for cleaning and washing
Cleaning products with sustainably sourced ingredients
and natural oils that are biodegradable and
available in eco-friendly packaging are conducive for
the environment.
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Using plants inside home and other
places for air purification
Plants, such as Areca palm and rubber absorb harmful
pollutants from the air.
SeSSIon 1: Green JobS
A way we can contribute to the environment is by
encouraging green jobs. Green jobs help protect and
restore the environment. Green jobs could be in any
sector or industry — traditional sectors, such as
manufacturing and construction, and new sectors,
such as renewable energy.
A green job is defined as one that helps bring about
and maintain transition to environmentally sustainable
forms of production and consumption. It
cuts across all sectors — energy, material,
water conservation, waste management and
pollution control.
According to the United Nations
Environment Program (UNEP), green jobs or
green collar jobs are works in agricultural,
administrative, research and development,
manufacturing and service activities that
contribute substantially to preserving or restoring
environmental quality. ‘Environmental quality’ is a set
of properties and characteristics of the environment,
either generalised or local, as they impinge on human
beings and other organisms.
A green collar worker is one who is employed in
the environmental sectors of the economy. Green
collar workers include professionals, such as green
building architects, environmental consultants, waste
management or recycling managers, environmental
or biological systems engineers, landscape architects,
solar and wind energy engineers and installers, green
vehicle engineers, organic farmers, environmental
lawyers and business personnel dealing with
green services or products. Green workers include
electricians who install solar panels, plumbers who
install solar water heaters, construction workers who
build energy-efficient green buildings, technicians
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and workers involved in establishing wind power
farms, and those working for clean and renewable
energy development.
At the enterprise level, green jobs can produce
goods or provide services that benefit the environment,
for example, green buildings or clean transportation.
However, these green outputs (products and services)
are not always based on green production processes
and technologies. Therefore, green jobs can also be
distinguished by their contribution to more environment
friendly processes. For example, green jobs can reduce
water consumption or improve recycling systems.
India has adopted several measures for ensuring
sustainability, renewable energy and energy efficiency
in various sectors, for example, efforts are being
made to reduce Carbon dioxide emission rates from
vehicles in automotive sector, promoting use of non
fossil fuel (solar, hydro and wind) as energy sources
for power generation in the power sector and enabling
energy efficient technologies through the concept of
green buildings in the construction sector.
The government, in association with private
players, is also raising energy awareness, changing
consumer behaviour, setting energy codes, and
evolving energy efficiency design and technologies.
To address the skilled workforce issues associated
with sustainable development, the Ministry of Skill
Development and Entrepreneurship has set up the
‘Skill Council for Green Jobs’. It is working towards
developing competencies of people in the domain
of renewable energy, sustainable development and
waste management.
Green jobs that exist over an array of occupational
profiles of skills and educational backgrounds
constitute entirely new type of jobs, but most build
on traditional professions and occupations.
With the aim of providing a greener economy
and creating environment friendly employment
opportunities, the government is also providing
impetus for green jobs as part of restructured growth
strategies under its ‘Make in India’ campaign. ‘Make
in India’ is designed to facilitate investment, ensure
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India’s first modern
metropolitan rail transport
system, Delhi Metro, not only
has helped commuters in Delhi
save on commuting time per
day but has also become the
f
irst rail-based methodology
to garner 90,000 voluntary
carbon credits for improving
energy efficiency. It has not
only created jobs for engineers,
drivers, station attendants,
signal staff, ticketing,
construction and maintenance
workers but also resulted in
greening existing occupations
and creating new occupations.
faster innovation, enhance skill development,
protect intellectual property and build best in
class manufacturing structures.
Benefits of green jobs
The greening of economy presents a major
opportunity to start new businesses, develop
new markets and lower energy costs. Green jobs
that contribute to protecting the environment
and reducing carbon footprint are becoming a
key economic driver of the twenty-first century.
Green jobs help:
• increase the efficiency of energy and
raw material.
• reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
• control waste and pollution.
• protect and restore ecosystems.
• support adaptation to the effects of
climate change.
Green jobs in agriculture
Organic gardening and farming is the process by which
we can grow plants and crops in an environment
friendly way. It prevents toxic runoff as no synthetic
pesticides are used. It prevents water pollution and soil
contamination as no chemical is added
to the soil. By using organic methods
of gardening, one can prevent death of
insects, birds, critters and other beneficial
soil organisms. Organic fruits and
vegetables are free from chemical residues
of synthetic fertilisers, and hence, are good
for our health.
Farmers’ cooperatives are one of the
most effective means of reducing the
risk in agriculture and strengthening the
livelihoods of small and marginal farmers. The process
involves mobilising farmers into groups of 15–20
members at the village level (called Farmer Interest
Groups or FIGs) and building their associations to an
appropriate federating point, i.e., Farmer Producer
Organisations (FPOs). FPOs are farmers’ collectives
with membership consisting mainly of small or
marginal farmers.
Some green jobs in the agriculture sector are in
organic farming, integrated pest management, farm
mechanisation and agriculture tourism. The Krishi
Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) set up by the government,
can be utilised to provide support activities like
technology dissemination, training awareness to
the local youth and farmers for collection, storage
and reuse of agro-waste.
Green jobs in transportation
Use of energy-efficient vehicles and alternate fuels like
Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) can help minimise
greenhouse gas emissions. The new biofuel Policy
announced by the Government of India on 10 August 2018
focusses on initiatives for enhanced use of biomass so as
to improve the availability of ethanol through starch and
sugar-based feedstock, develop ethanol technologies
and increase the production of biodiesel for blending.
Biofuels produced directly or indirectly from organic
material, including BioCNG, Bio-methanol, etc., can
generate green jobs.
The Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL),
under the Ministry of Power, has launched an ‘electric
vehicle programme’, which aims towards offering a
comprehensive solution to facilitate the adoption of
disruptive technology in India. The EESL seeks to
create market for electric vehicle, a technology poised
to boost e-mobility in the country. These encompass
road, rail, sea and air based vehicles that use electric
drive and take electric charge from an external source,
or hydrogen in case of fuel cell electric vehicle. Some
electric vehicle technologies are hybridised with fossil
fuel engines (for example, plug-in hybrid electric
vehicles, or PHEVs), while others use only electric power
via a battery (battery electric vehicles). The emergence
of electric drives as an alternate to internal combustion
engines has opened opportunities for new entrants in
the automotive market. Skill training of entrepreneurs
in handling and maintenance of e-rickshaws can create
more green jobs in the transportation sector.
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Green jobs in water conservation
There are green jobs in water harvesting and
conservation. Rooftop rainwater harvesting refers to the
process where rainwater is collected in tanks to be used
later. It can be installed in all houses and buildings. It
can also help increase the water table. Cycle-run water
pumps are being used instead of electricity-run pumps.
These do not consume electricity and provide a way for
people to exercise.
Some common green jobs in the agriculture sector
are related to water quality testing, water conservation,
water management, etc.
Using bamboo channels for drip irrigation is an
eco-friendly way to irrigate the land. It uses water
efficiently without any wastage. It is cheaper to build,
and after 2–3 years when the bamboo rots, it can be
added to the soil as manure.
Green jobs in solar and wind energy
Solar and wind power plants
provide clean energy. A Solar
Photovoltaic Installer installs
and maintains solar panels
in homes, businesses or land.
A solar lighting technician
assembles, tests and repairs
different types of solar
photovoltaic home lighting
system and streetlights. Some
common jobs in this sector are roofer, solar panel
installation technician and field technician.
Green news
India is one of the
few countries where
forest and tree cover
has increased in
recent years. The
total forest and tree
cover is 24 per cent
of the country’s
geographical area.
Green jobs in eco-tourism
Eco-tourism is intended to provide an experience to
visitors to understand the importance of conserving
resources, reducing waste, enhancing the natural
environment and reducing pollution. This helps improve
public image as the visitors feel good about being in an
environment friendly place. Green jobs in eco-tourism
include eco-tour guides and eco-tourism operators.
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Green jobs in building and construction
Green news
Houses and buildings are becoming environment friendly.
They use sustainable building material, and follow eco
friendly construction processes and green operations.
Green building design provides an integrated approach
to utilisation of renewable and non-renewable resources.
It is important that future green building programmes
and projects are established with strategies to address
skill issues, including appropriate training. Skill
development has a strategic role to play in promoting the
development of green buildings. It is essential that there
are enough workers equipped with appropriate skills so
as to ensure that green buildings are developed on a
large scale. Areas for green jobs in this sector include
construction, landscape, gardening, maintenance of
green components, water management, etc.
Green jobs in solid waste management
Solid waste is defined as any discarded solid fraction,
generated from domestic units, trade centres,
commercial establishments, industries, agriculture,
institutions, public services and mining activities.
The Ministry of Urban Development, Government of
India, has classified solid waste in 14 categories based
on the source of origin and type of waste, i.e., domestic,
municipal, commercial, industrial, institutional,
garbage, ash, street sweepings, dead animals,
construction and demolition waste, bulky, hazardous
and sewage waste.
Solid waste management system includes collection,
segregation, transportation, processing and disposal of
waste. Green jobs related to waste management are in
areas like e-waste recycling, solid waste management,
waste reduction, waste auditing, waste control, etc.
Green jobs in appropriate technology
Appropriate technology is small-scale technology
that is environment friendly and suited to local
needs. Examples of appropriate technology are
bike-powered or hand-powered water pumps, solar lamps
in streetlights, solar buildings, etc. It is the simplest
Green SkillS
The Indian Green
Building Council
(IGBC), part of the
Confederation of
Indian Industry (CII),
was founded in the
year 2001. The IGBC
offers services, which
include developing
new green building
rating programmes,
certification services
and green building
training programmes.
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technology that can get a job done in an environment
friendly manner with locally available resources. The
green jobs in appropriate technology may include areas,
such as biogas production, water treatment filtration,
farm mechanisation, rainwater harvesting, sanitation,
lighting, food production, refrigeration, etc.
Limiting greenhouse gas emissions
Some of the greenhouse gases are Carbon dioxide,
methane, Nitrous oxide, ozone and chlorofluorocarbons
(CFCs). These are emitted due to burning of fossil
fuels, using vehicles and refrigerants, and carrying out
agricultural activities, etc. These gases can trap heat
from the earth and prevent it from escaping into outer
space. This causes the earth to heat, leading to ‘global
warming’. To reduce the emission of greenhouse gases,
people are working towards reducing the use of fossil
fuels by finding less polluting energy sources, such as
Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).
Minimising waste and pollution
Instead of only thinking about how to recycle or reuse
waste, we must work towards finding solutions on how
to reduce the amount of waste produced. This will help
in waste management.
In manufacturing plants and factories, managers try
to find various ways to reduce the amount of waste
produced at every step of the process. Here are some of
the ways.
• Reusing scrap material
For example, in paper mills, damaged rolls are
sent back to the beginning of the production
line, i.e., they are added as raw material. In
manufacture of plastic items, off-cuts and scrap
are re-incorporated into new products.
• Ensuring quality control
If the quality of products is maintained, there will
be a decrease in rejected products, thus, reducing
waste. Automated monitoring equipment are now
being used, which can help identify production
problems at an early stage
Waste exchange
This is where the waste product of one process
becomes the raw material for another. It
represents the way of reducing waste disposal
through re-use.
• Managing e-waste
With advanced technology, we have also
encountered problems in managing e-waste like
old mobile phones, laptops and television sets.
It is important to have sustainable development
and plan judiciously for recycling e-waste.
• Use of eco-friendly material
Scientists have discovered various material,
which are eco-friendly, for example, banana leaf
and paper plates that are easily disposable, etc.
These must be made easily available and their
use needs to be encouraged.
Protecting and restoring ecosystems
Ecosystem is the community of living and non-living
beings existing together, and interacting with and
supporting each other. It is the perfect balance where
every species can survive. Human activities, such
as excess felling of trees can lead to destruction of
the ecosystem, causing climate change and natural
disasters, making it difficult for living beings to survive.
People are working now to help conserve the
existing ecosystems and restore the degraded ones,
using natural solutions. Forests and vegetation help
stabilise slopes, and therefore, reduce the risk of
landslides. Wetlands can help control floods. Avoiding
cutting of forests, planting more trees, investing in
soil health and restoration can control the emission of
greenhouse gases.
Adapting to the effects of climate change
Climate will change based on the damage already done.
Even though people are trying to control the emission
of greenhouse gases, global warming will be there due
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to the damage already done in terms of felling of trees
and using land for agriculture, etc. So, we have to adapt
to those changes. This means, we must find ways to
survive in the new climatic conditions. For example, if
there is weather forecast of less rain, farmers will need
to grow crops that can survive in drought conditions.
The Government of India launched the National
Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) in June 2008
to deal with climate change and related issues. The
NAPCC comprises eight missions in specific areas of
solar energy, enhanced energy efficiency, habitat, water,
sustaining Himalayan ecosystems, forestry, agriculture