THE NEED AND DEMAND FOR GREEN SKILLS TO ACHIEVE INCLUSIVE GREEN GROWTH: AN ANALYSIS

There is a close correlation between sustainable development and the knowledge economy. Technical skills, knowledge, values and attitudes are the essential ingredients needed for workforce in a knowledge economy to develop and support sustainable social, economic and environmental outcomes in business, industry and the community are the required skills and for achieving inclusive green growth. In a green economy, skills for sustainability comprises the critical importance of education, training and skills development in creating an innovation culture and building capabilities to drive green growth, sustainable development and a just transition to a low carbon economy. It is argued that future economic growth with decent work and rising living standards would critically rest on the ability of the present generation to manage and restore the natural assets on which all life and economic activities depend. This process of future economic growth characterised by rising performance of services in global trade inevitably exerts a heavy pressure on skill development systems. Focussing on this necessity, the present paper analyses the demand for future skills in the context of progress towards green growth which should be sustainable and inclusive. It is also argued that green growth strategy also impact the efforts to eradicate poverty particularly in rural areas. Explaining the main drivers of demand for skills required to achieve “inclusive green growth”, this paper assesses the status of skill development around the globe, and with special reference to India. An attempt is also made in this paper to deal with the measures to be taken in India to transform its “demographic surplus” in to a “demographic dividend”.