5 December 2019, Brussels – Today, the so-called “#Skills4Climate” Coalition – gathering 11 major European associations in the electrical and construction sectors – has released a call for policy action to support the skilled professionals making the energy transition happen on the ground.

Europe’s carbon neutrality aspiration and soon-to-be objective entails the swift roll out of a growing number and a greater variety of electrical and digital technologies for buildings and infrastructure.

The installations of these technologies requires advanced design and smooth integration with heating, cooling and ventilation systems, and must be followed by data-driven operation and maintenance.

The professionals in charge are predominantly employed by small and micro enterprises, which are currently trying to meet the growing demand with a limited, inadequately skilled and ageing workforce.

To prevent the skill shortage in the sector from acting as a bottleneck to the attainment of Europe’s climate and energy goals, the Coalition calls on European and national policy makers to promptly take actions to:

1. Better intertwine skills and climate strategies
2. Strengthen public-private partnerships
3. Incentivise technical education
4. Incentivise apprenticeships
5. Incentivise up- and re-skilling.

The signatories of the call for policy action are: AVERE – the European Association for Electromobility, EBC – the European Builders Confederation, EHPA – the European Heat Pumps Association, Eu.bac – the European Building Automation Controls Association, Eurelectric, EuropeOn – the European Electrical Contractors Association, EUEW – the European Union of Electrical Wholesalers, LightingEurope, smartEn – Smart Energy Europe, SolarPower Europe and WindEurope.

Read the statement here.