Kickstarted by the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment, the #GreenSkillsAtCop campaign calls for green skills to be integrated into national action plans for biodiversity and climate change.

The CIOB has joined the cause ahead of November’s Climate Change Conference in Baku, Azerbaijan, to highlight the significant lack of green skills within the construction industry.

Amanda Williams, head of environmental sustainability at CIOB, said: “Addressing the significant green skills gap will be essential in creating a more sustainable built environment.

“By joining the #GreenSkillsAtCop campaign, we hope to encourage the Government to give proper focus to the issues the industry is facing and to put measures in place to address the deficit.”

CIOB estimates around 500,000 additional workers in skilled trades are required in the UK alone to bring the national housing stock up to a minimum emergency efficiency standard of EPC C by 2030. 

The organisation has continually called for a green construction skills fund to be introduced which could fund a pipeline of workers who are trained in things like retrofit coordination, heat pump installation and sustainable modern methods of construction (MMC).

It could also cover specialist roles such as ecologists which are required for projects to fulfil requirements from recently introduced legislation on Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG).

Meanwhile, Skills England, the newly formed body created to address skills shortages and economic growth, said in its September report green-skilled workers would be vital in delivering the country’s net zero targets.

Amanda added: “We were encouraged to see Skills England recently acknowledge the importance of ensuring there is a healthy supply of workers with green skillsets.

“CIOB will continue to work closely with Skills England to understand the links between crucial industries, particularly construction, and the future emphasis of a workforce with skills for the climate transition.”

CIOB will attend this year’s COP29 conference and will continue to highlight the skills issue with policymakers and other industry stakeholders.

Amanda concluded: “We know the built environment is responsible for almost 40 per cent of energy-related CO2 emissions, and addressing this has the potential to accelerate the transition to a net zero future.

“We must ensure the built environment is at the front and centre of the discussion so global leaders recognise the importance of engagement with our industry.”