The energy efficiency, the renewable sources of energy, the construction engineering, the agriculture, the waste treatment and the natural resources conservation are some of the areas that in the last few years have been creating a large number of green jobs. The concepts of sustainability and the circular economy are becoming part of almost every aspect of the everyday life both of the people and the businesses. All of this is tightly connected with the future and the models of education of the youth. Those that are going to be the main actors in the fight with the climate change must be educated, but also trained to perform optimally for the protection of the planet and humankind.
In North Macedonia, the terms “green economy” and “green jobs” are not widespread, and for the wider general public still remain a mystery. This is hindering the appropriate perception of their significance for the economic development of the country, that, on the other hand, is poor in natural resources and it needs careful and sustainable management, says Mila Jovanovska of the environmental organization “Go Green.”
She stressed that according to the recommendations of the European Union and the international financial institutions, North Macedonia, without creating conditions for the development of the green economy, will be falling behind the current economic and social affairs.
“The green jobs are decent jobs that are contributing for social equality and protection, revitalization and upgrading of the environment. They are contributing for efficient use of resources; waste reduction and waste management; lowering air pollution; protection and renewal of ecosystems; lowering greenhouse emissions; responding to the consequences of climate change, as well as increased energy efficiency. At the same time, they are productive, they provide a solid income for the worker, safety at the job, social protection for the family, personal development and social integration, space for free expressions of their worries concerning their work, including equal possibilities and treatment for all men and women,” Jovanovska explains.
The two-year report on climate change published in 2018 by the Ministry of Environment, qualifies the green jobs as “win-win-win“ solutions. In recent times, they have been mentioned in North Macedonia’s national contributions to the Paris Climate Agreement, with which this country has obliged itself to lower the carbon dioxide emissions by 30% until 2030. This document states that if the planned measures for energy efficiency in the sector of the buildings and low-carbon energy from renewable sources and gas are implemented, then by 2030 in North Macedonia around 6,000 green jobs can be expected.
Also, the second two-year report on the climate change confirms these findings, with an estimated 6,200 green jobs that would be opened by 2035, out of which 4,000 would be in the sector of energy efficiency and buildings.
According to the Revised Nationally Determined Contributions Report from 2021, 8,000 jobs are expected by 2030 and 10,000 by 2035, with the projected main contributions by policies and energy efficiency measures, with 77% participation. These include reconstructions of the present residential buildings (42%), the building of passive houses (21%), renewable energy without stimulations (6%) and solar thermal collectors (8%).
Jovanovska thinks that the elementary school pupils should be motivated to understand the concept of climate change and to understand that they themselves through their profession can contribute to the alleviation of the climate change and for the creation of a sustainable society. In order to achieve this, an overall approach with a good strategy will be needed that will encompass the educational process and the labor market.
One of the industries that are quickly opening green jobs is the renewable sources of energy. The lack of qualified personnel has been obvious for a long time. For these reasons, the Solar Macedonia association that consists of over 80 member-companies has already conducted 4 trainings, with hundreds of workers receiving certifications. Still, according to the association’s president. professor Ilija Nasov, there is need for additional hundreds of other certifications.
During the past period, the association conducted training for planing solar systems with the latest T-Sol, PV Sol, and Geosol software. The level of knowledge of all designers, installers, and designers was raised to the highest level since the knowledge they have gained contains all of the necessary data for the preparation of business plans and making a decision for investing. The biggest investments in the next 5 years, stressed Nasov, that will be conducted by the European Union, will be in the domain of renewable sources of energy as one of the best ways for solving the greenhouse gasses that are considered as the biggest reason for the global warming. In Macedonia, intensive investments in solar central and other renewable sources of energy have already started and this will allow the trained workers quickly to find employment in this green industry.
