Bridging the green skills gap with the Climate KIC Academy 

As industries embrace the challenge to build a more sustainable economy, a significant skills gap has emerged in the global workforce. Globally, only one in eight workers have at least one green skill necessary for businesses to deliver on their sustainability ambitions. Research has found that while green skills are deemed essential by 79% of business leaders, only 55% of companies have programmes in place to develop them.

Beyond technical green skills, there is another obstacle to climate action progress. Many people are not yet equipped with transversal, ‘soft’ skills – such as communication, leadership, change management and systems-thinking abilities – which are needed to effectively drive change. 

It is clear we are currently not moving fast enough to equip people with the full range of skills required to build a just future, where humanity thrives within planetary boundaries. With 15 years’ experience on the ground at Climate KIC, we know that for climate solutions to thrive, people must be able to collaborate across sectors – and by having a space to navigate entrenched power dynamics to prioritise local leadership and innovation, action can be inspired across all levels of society.

Equipping future climate leaders

The Climate KIC Academy bridges the green skills gap by integrating technical knowledge with transversal skills. It accelerates the green transition by empowering climate leaders to turn knowledge into action and equipping businesses, industries, and policymakers with essential skills for lasting change. Its curriculum blends technical and transversal skills, preparing leaders to innovate and navigate complex environmental and societal challenges.

“We need to be innovative and flexible in responding to the climate challenge, which is why the Climate KIC Academy programme is fully customisable. It builds on 15 years’ experience accumulated from delivering similar programmes and we have created adaptable modules that can be tailored towards stakeholders’ challenges,” says Solveig Zophoniasdottir, Learning Director at Climate KIC.

A fully customised offering, the Climate KIC Academy is based on the Climate KIC systems thinking approach and sensemaking principles. The course can include capacity-building elements such as online and in-depth system innovation courses, peer-to-peer leadership coaching, policy innovation practices for emerging leaders, and a convening festival.

Case study: Rivne, Ukraine

The first Climate KIC Academy pilot was launched in 2024 in Rivne, Ukraine, a city selected by the European Commission’s EU Cities Mission, as part of the NetZeroCities programme. Located in Western Ukraine, Rivne wants to dramatically reduce its carbon emissions and become the first Ukrainian city to achieve climate neutrality by 2030, reflecting the city’s determination to take ambitious action on climate.

Rivne’s Deputy Mayor Artem Hanushchak highlighted the pilot’s impact: “Participating in the Climate KIC Academy was a valuable opportunity to rethink governance and build a long-term climate strategy through collaboration. Analysing environmental issues and integrating practical tools acquired during the training provides a foundation for developing a long-term climate neutrality strategy.” 

The programme, tailored to Rivne’s needs, emphasised resilience, renewable energy adoption and the integration of European sustainability practices. It brought together key partners, including United for Ukraine (UFU), which provided essential local insights and stakeholder connections. 

Olga Hammam, CEO of UFU, explains:  “After Russia’s full-scale invasion, UFU became the biggest platform supporting and connecting displaced individuals from Ukraine. In this pilot, we helped Climate KIC identify suitable local partners, bring stakeholders together and advise on the communications sensitivities of the local context – “emergency” means something specific for Ukrainians.”

This initiative focused on Ukraine’s green recovery and transition – as well as the country’s path towards EU accession. The pilot engaged 25 Ukrainian professionals through workshops, systems innovation training and leadership huddles, where participants worked together on local climate challenges such as the energy transition or raising climate awareness. 

One of the pilot’s key themes was sustainability as a form of resilience. Oksana Udovyk, a researcher at Spanish institute INGENIO, led discussions on how green recovery can strengthen Ukraine’s independence: “Reducing reliance on generators by expanding renewable energy is a critical way to enhance resilience during wartime.” 

Before Russia’s full-scale invasion, sustainability wasn’t a mainstream topic in Ukraine – however, it has become increasingly prominent. “Due to EU accession and financing being seen through the lens of ‘sustainable investment’, attitudes are shifting,” says Olga Hammam.

Course feedback showed that participants enjoyed the programme and found it useful, with all stating it met or exceeded expectations and that they would recommend it to a friend or colleague. Participants rated the overall content provided by the programme especially highly – 71% were very satisfied with the pilot’s structure.

Looking for future Climate KIC Academy partners

Following the success of the Rivne pilot, we are keen to roll out more Climate KIC Academy programmes in Europe – and beyond.

The green transition needs people who can think, connect and lead differently and the Climate KIC Academy is here to prepare us. We’re seeking partners, funders, and participants to help scale this initiative:

• Industry leaders, policymakers and educators to collaborate with us on curriculum development, help us co-develop programmes and deliver them to participants
• Funders and investors to help us expand our offerings and reach new communities
• Participants such as professionals from any sector or industry – looking to upskill or reskill, who also understand the importance of gaining transversal skills to help scale up climate solutions.

“There are a lot of unique climate solutions which have been developed by companies, municipalities and NGOs – programmes like the Climate KIC Academy help these communities connect and share knowledge, which countries outside Ukraine can also learn from,” says Maksym Karpash, Vice Rector for International Affairs and Strategic Development at King Danylo University, who led a workshop at the Climate KIC Academy pilot.

Do you want to help us develop green skills across Europe? Do you think your city, organisation or business would benefit from this programme? If so, get in touch with our team today. Together, we can accelerate the global transition to a sustainable economy by closing the green skills gap. 

As Climate KIC’s Director of Learning, Solveig Zophoniasdottir says, “We want to build alliances with partners in the skill-building space and to serve cities at the beginning of their climate neutrality journey. We urge people from all sectors – educational bodies, industry leaders, policy-makers, and community advocates – to support or join the Climate KIC Academy. For potential participants, we’re inviting you to enroll in our upcoming courses to become the change-makers our planet needs.” 

Contact us at learning@climate-kic.org and register your interest for the Climate KIC Academy.