New or even old professions have emerged with a new role. These are the so-called new “green professions”. In addition to the effects on atmospherein the quality of life and the air we breathe, the climate change it creates new conditions in a number of sectors, such as work.
The Laboratory of Counseling Sciences and Professional Career of the Faculty of Philosophy of the EKPA prepared a new professional orientation guide with the aim of helping students to “navigate” in the new professional reality as it has gone conforming. The director of the Laboratory, Katerina Argyropoulou, tells APE-MPE that “green professions” are the new trend but also more traditional professions can become more “green».
But what are these new professions whose demand has already begun to increase? It is about a “range of professions that have emerged due to climate change, such as environmental engineers, geologistshydrologists or specialists in the study of the atmosphere, designers of “smart” houses or even “smart” cities, farmers of hydroponic/organic crops, specialists in textiles and paints, anti-pollution system installation technicians, material recycling facility operators/maintenance of photovoltaic and solar systems”, emphasizes Ms. Argyropoulou.
He adds that there are also “new paths” from older professions, “such as environmental lawyers, artists with non-toxic materials, ambassadors for climate protection, scientists specializing in Artificial Intelligence, specialists in environmental development, sustainable entrepreneurship consultantscreating professions that move away from overconsumption that contribute to a healthier planet.”
This does not necessarily mean that other more “classic” activities they will be lost, while they adapt to the new reality that has been formed.
“The sustainability of these professions has to do with the choices we make and this also concerns our professional lives. Ecological well-being tends to become a common pursuit as we see, e.g. companies representing fast fashion that have come under fire for their tactics to demonstrate their concern for the environment by creating clothing from recycled materials. Undoubtedly, there are ways for each professional to act in a more respectful way with the environment, either by recycling the materials they use or by choosing materials that are less burdensome for the environment”, underlines Ms. Argyropoulou when referring to redistribution both economic and natural resources. wealth, as it will result from new professional choices, as well as from a new prioritization of needs. “Think about the issue of energy or the issue of excessive consumption. If the way we live changes, our priorities will definitely change, which will affect all professions and the economy in general. Over the years of course, and after establishing a healthier and more environmentally friendly mindset, e.g. if we get to the point where we stop running on gasoline, some professions are likely to fade into obscurity, as any major socioeconomic change does.”
The EKPA Counseling and Professional Career Science Laboratory taking into account the environmental impacts By charting people’s career path, a counseling intervention titled: “Career in… Green” was developed with the aim of cultivating ecological awareness for careers.
“The intervention uses the 4 main pillars of career guidance (self-awareness, career information, decision-making, transition) and connects them with environmental aspects. The intervention is implemented in the context of group professional information or through the provision of individual professional guidance services. In other words, the targeted intervention helps beneficiaries to understand what is happening in the environment, what this means for their own careers and the careers of others, and to think about how they might react and capitalize on this phenomenon in relation to a ” “green future”, highlights director of the Laboratory of Guidance and Professional Career Sciences of the Faculty of Philosophy EKPA.
The good news is that in Greece there are already educational institutions that grant degrees in the fields mentioned above. “At the moment, in the computerized report field 2 there are two departments of Environmental Engineering in Thessaloniki and Xanthi, as well as Departments of Environment in Larissa, Mytilini and Zakynthos which can be accessed from both scientific field 2 and the 3 and 4…
In fact, these are very low-based departments, which is partly explained by the fact that they are outside of Athens, but mainly because, unfortunately, still in Greece we have not fully realized the importance of these professions for our future. In fact, a recent survey shows that only 1% of national professionals work in this field, the lowest percentage in Europe.
Of course, there are other sections related to them. antifouling technologies and environmental Protection, as, indicatively, the departments of Geology and Geoenvironment, Oceanography and Marine Life Sciences, Mineral Resources Engineering, Agriculture, Materials Science, Physics and Chemical Engineering, with the corresponding specializations. However, a mathematician, chemist, civil engineer, architect or computer scientist can, with the appropriate master’s degree, enter this very interesting and vitally important career field that relates to the well-being of the global community,” says Ms. Argyropoulou…
In conclusion, it emphasizes that young people, regardless of the professional path they choose, need to redefine their values with environmental sensitivity, aiming at quality of life, developing “green” and “Green” skills (environmental awareness, promotion of sustainable development, green technology) who cultivate a new “green” role, learn about modern professions and try to find their aspects related to sustainability, seek information on climate change and work sensitive to challenges.