Dr Alexandru Muresan from the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, Renergia, a EUSEW Young Energy Ambassador, discusses the importance of education and workforce development in supporting the European Green Deal’s transition to sustainable energy.
As the EU and its member states make significant investments in green technologies and infrastructure, it is imperative to address the human element of this transition. There is a pressing need for a specialised workforce, and many countries are already experiencing shortages in key areas. At the same time, the success of the European Green Deal depends on the ability of citizens to understand and adopt new technologies and practices.
Climate change: A catalyst for renewables and innovation
Climate change can be regarded as a disruptive ‘black swan’ event, compelling the allocation of substantial financial resources for investments in renewable energy sources, advanced energy infrastructure, energy storage solutions, hydrogen-based technologies, energy efficiency, and other sustainable innovations. However, I propose examining this situation from a different perspective—one that merges social, civic, and professional dimensions.
Improving energy literacy
Many EU Member States have implemented support programmes to encourage the adoption of renewable energy systems in residential and commercial sectors, leading to a significant increase in the number of prosumers. However, even if they are not always aware of their lack of energy literacy, a considerable share of the consumers of this new renewable capacity (including some prosumers) do fully understand how their behaviour impacts the grid or the potential benefits of their choices in the energy system.
This phenomenon observed among the general population can be linked to the Dunning-Kruger effect—the tendency to overestimate one’s understanding of the complex implications of the energy system. This is unsurprising, considering that energy infrastructure and market dynamics require advanced technical and economic knowledge, which is often inaccessible to individuals outside these fields.
Based on the scientific foundation of this idea, another phenomenon with profound societal implications has emerged in public discourse: the artificial conversion of opinions into knowledge (pseudo-knowledge). This phenomenon underscores the importance of equipping citizens with the tools and resources needed to make informed decisions, particularly in areas like energy policy, where public opinion increasingly influences regulatory outcomes.
The importance of education and reskilling
This calls for a deliberate effort to enhance individual capacity to engage with complex topics, including reskilling initiatives and adapted educational programmes that enable citizens to grasp the intricacies of technological and economic systems altogether. Addressing the need for informed decision-making is not solely an intellectual endeavour but a fundamental step toward cultivating a knowledgeable and adaptable society equipped to navigate the complexities of a rapidly evolving energy sector, where all of us must play an active role.
The fundamental question arises: what is the gap between the pace of technological advancement and the average level of energy literacy within civil society?
Boosting education under the European Green Deal
To address these issues, I, as an EUSEW Young Energy Ambassador, recommend central and regional authorities make education a cornerstone of the European Green Deal. This could be done by launching the programme: The Green Deal Education Initiative – Education First. This initiative would support educational institutions – schools, high schools, universities, and parent associations—in adapting existing curricula and creating new educational subjects centred on the green transition.
While I fully understand that the European Union has limited competencies in the field of education and cannot directly change curricula or mandate new subjects. However, it can play a supporting role by collaborating with Member States and their Education Ministries. The EU’s role should involve scaling up existing best practices, facilitating knowledge-sharing platforms, and providing financial and technical support to Member States to adapt and enhance their educational frameworks.
For younger generations, education is of paramount importance, as they will become the principal actors in achieving long-term climate goals and developing sustainable skills and competencies. For users of green technologies, whether it is residential, commercial use, or use by local public authorities, educational programmes are vital to maximising the efficiency of these technologies and facilitating their integration into daily practices.
Furthermore, technical education and vocational training for those working in the production, installation, and maintenance of these technologies are important to ensuring the optimal performance of green technologies across all sectors. In parallel with the investment programmes, the European Union must support Member States in implementing large-scale educational programmes by providing financial and logistical assistance to universities, research centres, and high schools, thereby ensuring an efficient and sustainable transition for all stakeholders involved.
To unlock a large-scale adoption of green technologies, several practical measures and actions are required. First and foremost, the training of teaching staff is a priority, as educators play a key role in preparing future generations. This would require financial support, and continuous professional development programmes will enable them to integrate sustainability-related topics into school curricula, equipping young people to face the challenges of the green transition.
Secondly, for the existing workforce, reskilling programmes such as ‘Back to School’ will facilitate the transition to roles within the green economy, providing the competencies required to meet new market demands. Lastly, community involvement through local campaigns and parent associations is essential for reinforcing sustainability values and promoting lifelong learning, thereby fostering a culture of sustainability across society. These measures are fundamental to the success of the transition to a green and sustainable future.
The Clean Energy Transition will not happen without taking citizens on board, and doing so requires a historic educational effort. The European Green Deal education initiative ‘The Green Deal Education Initiative – Education First’ has the potential to mark a historic moment in transforming the European educational system, aligning it with the demands of a sustainable future. By prioritising education, we can cultivate a well-informed and skilled workforce capable of driving the ecological transition and supporting the European Union’s ambitious sustainability goals.
Links
- https://education.ec.europa.eu/focus-topics/green-education/about-green-education
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301421524001265
- https://europa.eu/eurobarometer/surveys/detail/2672
About the author
Alexandru Muresan is a researcher, entrepreneur, and educator in the field of energy transition. A member of the Energy Transition Researcher Centre at the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, he is also the CEO of Renergia, Romania’s first sustainability app, which helps users lower energy bills and protect the planet.
