Holding back climate progress: sustainability’s critical skills gap

This research study investigates how the role of sustainability professionals is changing and illuminates attitudes towards which skills matter now, as we seek a green and just transition. It further considers how these skills can be developed through organisational training and learning.

The study has specific objectives to identify:

1. How the changing context of the green transition is impacting sustainability roles
2. Attitudes towards which skills are required to address the new context and the relative importance of soft versus technical skills
3. The opportunity for coaching and training to improve effectiveness in driving the green transition

This report presents the findings from a survey (n = 138) and interviews (n=21) of global organisations across sectors, including solo business owners through to multi-nationals, undertaken between December 2023 and April 2024.

Climate and sustainability work depends upon adaptability to often turbulent business environments, where the urgency of the climate crisis is juxtaposed with pressing and potentially conflicting organisational priorities regarding strategy and resource allocation. Now more than ever, sustainability practitioners must engage the entire business, from leadership to front-line workers, across all business functions and the value chain.

This shift in role necessitates a focus on developing more comprehensive skill sets and approaches, which often need to be prioritised by organisations. Furthermore, there is potential for being overwhelmed and burnt out amongst those involved in this work. Failure to deal with this will impact our ability to achieve transition targets. To be fully prepared, climate and sustainability practitioners must develop skill sets beyond technical knowledge, and organisations should prioritise community-building efforts.