This week at COP28 in Dubai, the Energy Efficiency Council’s Holly Taylor had the pleasure of hosting Careers for Net Zero’s first ever international event.

The panel featured an all-star cast including:

• Lisa Jacobson, President, Business Council for Sustainable Energy
• Kushla Munro, International Climate and Energy Division Head, Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
• Joanna Osawe, CEO, Women in Renewable Energy (WiRE)
• Kane Thornton, CEO, Clean Energy Council
• Daniel Wetzel, Head of the Tracking Sustainable Transitions Unit at International Energy Agency

With the International Energy Agency estimating that 17 million new clean energy jobs are needed by the end of the decade to keep us on track with limiting global warming to 1.5°C, this was a fascinating, fun discussion on the Australian and international opportunities for building the clean economy workforce.

Needless to say, the full video is worth your time, and was loaded with insights.

Some key takeaways included:

• Daniel Wetzel referencing the World Energy Employment Report, saying that energy jobs are up by nearly 2 million globally, almost entirely from clean energy.
• Wetzel also noted that although much of the workforce conversation focuses on STEM degrees (which need to be increased), it’s critical we address vocational education and training (such as trades), which are flatlining in all major economies.
• Lisa Jacobson spoke of the domination of energy efficiency jobs in the United States, saying that since the pandemic, energy efficiency has been the largest provider of US clean energy jobs. As she said, they are “in every corner, and every community, and they can’t be outsourced.”

The video also includes terrific questions from representatives from Fiji and Malaysia around opportunities for young indigenous people in their countries – opportunities locally, but also in partnership with Australia.

As Lisa said, “We need all hands-on deck to get to net zero . Only together can we do this.”

Watch the full video from COP28 below: