View 2009 Survey Results
The 2009 Greenhouse Gas and Climate Change Workforce Needs Assessment Survey was the first international survey that confirmed the workforce and skill shortages critical to battling climate change, and details the depth and breadth of the deficiency, the industry's anticipated growth and its development as a new professional occupation.
In collaboration, the Greenhouse Gas Management Institute and Sequence Staffing produced the industry's first collection of data in relation to the greenhouse gas and climate change workforce.
With the prominent role that climate change represents globally, we believe it was vital to gain an in-depth understanding of the complex workforce needs and requirements for personnel measuring emissions and managing related to climate change data internationally. How decisions are made, how resources are allocated, and how results are measured will all involve this critical information. We believe the 2009 survey represents a starting point towards leveraging information to better understand and address the needs of this newly emerging and evolving workforce.
The survey was intended as a policy neutral approach to obtaining information from the combined international community and experts. Our focus was on acquiring valuable and much needed data while not promoting a policy or specific protocols, standards or programs.
Key findings of the report include:
- Greenhouse gas accounting is critical to combating global climate change.
- There is a significant shortage of qualified personnel and experts to meet the challenges.
- The GHG accounting and climate change industry is projected to grow significantly as a "super sector."
- Carbon is projected to be traded at volumes greater than other major commodities such as steel or coal.
- Given the labor shortage, the risk is moderately high that carbon trading could face accounting scandals like those symbolized by Enron, WorldCom and Tyco.
- Greenhouse gas accounting is expected to become professionalized like that of the IT industry; to grow very large and very rapidly.
- Educational institutions are not adequately training new graduates with GHG accounting and management skills to meet climate change demands.
We hope you find this report valuable as we continue to work to tell the evolving story of the newly emerging greenhouse gas accounting and management profession. To view the survey results, please click here.
