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Greening your career

Last updated: Monday, November 22, 2010

South Africa is committed to becoming a low carbon economy and reducing emissions 34% by 2020. There is consequently rising demand for skilled professionals in the carbon and energy sectors, and for businesses to 'green-train' staff generally.

Predictions around job creation from these industries are very promising. The GreenPeace Energy Sector Jobs to 2030 report predicts that the opportunities offered by the renewable energy sector alone could result in the creation of 78 000 direct jobs and thousands of indirect jobs in less than 20 years.

SA’s Water and Environmental Affairs minister, Buyelwa Sonjica, recently signed an agreement with provincial MEC’s responsible for the environmental portfolio. Ensuring environmental assets and natural resources are valued, protected and enhanced is known as "outcome 10" of government's 12 outcomes, The environmental sector expanded public works programme (EPWP) would be scaled up to carry out the activities outlined under outcome 10. It was expected that 1,15-million EPWP work opportunities would be created by 2014. Another 325 652 full time jobs were also expected to be created by 2014.

The growth of the green industry is clear. The question is, who will fill these jobs and will they be able to perform them effectively? There is clearly a need in South Africa to develop strong capacity within the green industry and related technologies. All these predictions will fail to come true if we don’t have the skilled workers to fill these jobs created. Capacity building and skills transfer is vital for a country like ours that is still in its infancy when it comes to sustainability.

Corporate South Africa is also seeing the value in up skilling their staff. Every day, employees in organizations make decisions with far-reaching environmental and social consequences. When these employees begin to understand the impact of their decisions, they consider the options more carefully. The business case for employee education is a strong one with benefits such as improved operational efficiency, innovation, supply chain management, attracting and retaining employees, strengthening customer relations as well as strengthening community ties.

What are the training options out there?

Most South African’ universities offer Environmental Management degrees and Engineering degrees that are suitable for those students who are embarking on their green careers or those interested in long term studying. But what about those people who want to join this exciting industry or gain an additional skill to add to their existing portfolio. Short training programmes are easily accessible to gain these types of skills quickly. We’ve researched the green training market in South Africa and found the short term programmes that are available currently. Below is a list of training providers, the short term courses they offer as well as a brief description of the courses they offer. We have specifically omitted the degree programmes from our research as there are too many to mention.

Company	Course name	Description
Business Day/Nedbank	Greening your business	Digital course to help get a grip on what is required to assess your organisation’s position and risk, and formulate policy in line with legislative and international requirements, helping set you on the road to sustainability.
Crystal Clear Email: nosisa@crystalclear.co.za	Carbon Footprint Course	Practical training in how to calculate and reduce the carbon footprint of your organisation, product or service and achieve environmental improvements and cost savings.
Energy Cybernetics http://www.energycybernetics.com	Certified Energy Manager Course (CEM)	In-depth 5-day seminar ideal for professionals who seek a more detailed program of instruction covering technical, economic and regulatory aspects of effective energy management. Comprehensive learning and problem-solving forum for those who want broader understanding of the latest energy cost reduction techniques and strategies
Energy Cybernetics	Certified Energy Auditor Course (CEA)	Identifies professionals as having the required knowledge and experience needed in the growing field of energy auditing.
Energy Cybernetics	Certified Carbon Reduction Manager (CRM)	Program designed to provide recognition for professionals who have distinguished themselves as leaders in the growing field of carbon reduction
Energy Cybernetics	Introduction to Energy Management (IEMT)	3-day programme, practical hands-on treatment of energy management. In addition to developing an understanding of the issues, begins the actual planning process of energy management of industrial and commercial buildings.
GBCSA www.gbcsa.org.za	Green Star SA Accredited Professional Course	Provides practitioners with an understanding of the Green Star SA rating system and the ability to apply Green Star SA tools to projects.
Global Carbon Exchange http://www.globalcarbonexchange.com	GCX Certified Carbon Literacy Course	This one day course gives employees and executives a good working knowledge of carbon related factors that will have to be included in their strategies to ensure their departments and businesses are prepared for doing business in a new low-carbon economy.
Global Carbon Exchange	GCX Certified Carbon Footprint Analyst Level 1 Course	The purpose of this course is to educate individuals on the key areas required in order to become a carbon footprint analyst. This is a hands on course where the learners will be taken through the logical steps required to complete a carbon footprint assessment
Global Carbon Exchange	GCX Certified Carbon Footprint Analyst Level 2 Course	This 3 day hands on course builds on Carbon Footprint Analyst Level 1 to enhance the experience of the learner ensuring that they have the skills to undertake carbon footprints for large corporations.
Global Carbon Exchange http://www.globalcarbonexchange.com/courses-learners-energy-efficiency.html	GCX Certified Energy Efficiency Assessor Course	This 3 day course is designed for all those whose work involves maintenance, property, building and facilities management, and working with energy systems. The course is designed to help participants identify inefficiencies in the systems they work with by teaching them the process of how to conduct a detailed energy assessment.
Global Carbon Exchange	GCX Certified Residential Eco Auditor Course	This 2 day course carefully examines the residential environment and teaches the learner how to assess and identify solutions across all areas of sustainability. The course outlines recommendations based on behavioural changes, correct maintenance practises and green technology to green a home.
Green Business League-SA http://www.greenbusinessleague.co.za	Certified Green Consultant	The course focuses on key areas such as HVAC, IT , transportation, Purchasing, Supply Chain, CSR, Carbon Emissions and credits etc
Green Gain Consulting www.greengain.co.za	Environmental Training for business	This is a one-day environmental awareness-training course specifically aimed at management levels. Case studies and legal awareness is a central theme throughout the course. The course is structured to ensure that managers understand environmental issues and the concept of liability for environmental pollution. Green Corporate Governance and Environmental Management Systems (ISO 14 001) are discussed
Green Gain Consulting	Environmental Awareness in the Workplace	This one day environmental awareness training course is aimed at introducing the employee and contractor (ISO14 001 also regards contractors as employees for training purposes) to the environment. It has been designed using 16 modules dealing with the natural environment, human-environment interaction, environmental legal requirements, transportation, hazardous substances, emergencies, environmental management systems and environmental issues at home and in the community.
IMBEWU Sustainability Legal Specialists	CLIMATE CHANGE & CARBON MARKETS	The course covers Climate change market briefing and policy update, Developing carbon projects, CDM legal training
InSynch Sustainable Technologies	Green Home Design	Passive Heating & Cooling, grey water systems, permaculture, home & Garden layout Green principles, Decorating Choices, home improvements, etc.for a healthy home.
InSynch Sustainable Technologies	Basic Renewable Energy Course	How solar panels, solar water heaters, wind generators, etc fit together and work, sun ovens.
Mancosa	Carbon Markets	Course reviews how carbon markets work and the fundamentals of trading carbon as a commodity.
Mancosa	Climate change and corporate sustainability	Prepares employees to integrate Sustainability into mainstream business strategies. Covers high quality reporting, regulatory and voluntary carbon disclosure requirements
Metamorphosis Environmental Consultants	Environmental Impact Assessment Training	This 1 day course will provide a practical overview of the application of the EIA regulations and the legislation which drives them. Training will be given on the appropriate approach to the EIA process, using specific examples and exercises to reinforce the learning experience.
Metamorphosis Environmental Consultants	Real World EIA	This course will run over 3 days, it will deal with the practical application of the basic assessment and EIA regulations. The course includes a description of EIA triggers, and an overview of all applicable legislation as well as authority requirements. T
SAAEA	Greening your business	The goal of a green business is to keep its environmental footprint small, reducing waste and reusing materials as much as possible
Sustainability South Africa	Sustainability Reporting using the GRI	Two-day course’ offers practical examples, presentations, interactive discussion and actual evaluation of published sustainability reports to provide insight into GRI's reporting framework. Further, it puts sustainability in context with an overview of international and local developments and best practice.

In order to embark on your green career, you need to decide which environmental sector interests you, find a course that suits your needs and go for it. Speaking from experience, it is a truly rewarding career path filled with challenges, opportunities and lots of room to grow. And you get to add ‘Saving the Planet’ to your CV. Pretty cool if you ask me.

Disclaimer: The list of training providers and courses available is by no means an exhaustive one as we may have missed some training providers during our research. Please contact us if you have a course that we’ve missed and we’ll update the article.

- Timea Kulcsar, Global Carbon Exchange, November 2010

Contact timeak@globalcarbonexchange.com

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