In addition to the impacts on the environment, on the quality of life and the air we breathe, climate change is creating new conditions in a number of sectors, such as the workplace. New professions or even old ones with new roles have now come to the fore. These are the so-called new «green professions». The Laboratory of Counselling Science and Career Counselling of the School of Philosophy of the University of Athens has developed a new career guidance guide to help students «navigate» the new professional reality as it has been shaped. The director of the Laboratory, Katerina Argyropoulou, tells APE-MPE that «green professions» are the new trend but that even the more traditional professions can become «greener».

But what are these new occupations for which demand has already started to grow? These are a «range of occupations that have arisen as a result of climate change, such as environmental engineers, geologists, hydrologists or specialists in atmospheric studies, designers of smart homes and/or smart cities, hydroponic/organic crop farmers, textile and paint specialists, anti-pollution system installation technicians, operators of material recycling/photovoltaic and solar system maintenance facilities“, says Ms. Argyropoulou and adds that there are also ”new pathways“ of older professions, ”such as lawyers for ecological protection issues, artists with non-toxic materials, climate protection ambassadors, scientists specialised in AI, environmental development specialists, sustainable entrepreneurship consultants, creating professions that move away from overconsumption that contribute to a healthier planet».

This does not necessarily mean that other more «classic» professions are going to disappear, as long as they adapt to the new reality that has emerged. «The viability of these professions is about the choices we make and this also applies to our professional lives. Ecological well-being tends to become a common pursuit as we see, for example, companies that espouse fast fashion and have been targeted for their tactics, demonstrating environmental concerns by creating clothes from recycled materials. There are certainly ways for every professional to act in a more environmentally friendly way, either by recycling the materials they use or by choosing materials that are less harmful to the environment», she stresses, while referring to the redistribution of both economic and natural wealth, as will result from the new professional choices, as well as a new hierarchy of needs. «Consider the issue of energy or the issue of overconsumption. If the way we live changes, our priorities will inevitably change, which will affect all professions and the economy in general. Over the years, of course, and once a healthier, more environmentally friendly mentality has been established - for example, if we reach the level where we stop using petrol - some professions are likely to fade into oblivion, as is the case with any major socio-economic change.

The Laboratory of Counselling Science and Career Counselling of the University of Athens, taking into account the environmental impact on the career development of individuals, developed a counselling intervention entitled: «Careers in... green», aiming at cultivating ecological awareness for careers.

«The intervention exploits the 4 main pillars of vocational guidance (self-awareness, vocational information, decision making, transition) and links them to environmental aspects. The intervention is implemented either in the context of group vocational information or through the provision of individual vocational guidance services. In other words, this intervention helps the beneficiaries to understand what is happening in the environment, what it means for their own career and the careers of others and to think about how they could react and make use of this phenomenon in relation to a “green” future», stresses the director of the Laboratory of Counselling Science and Career Counselling of the School of Philosophy of the University of Athens.

The good news is that there are already educational institutions in Greece that award degrees in the above mentioned fields. «At the moment, in the computerised form of the 2nd field there are two departments of Environmental Engineering in Thessaloniki and Xanthi, but also departments of Environmental Engineering in Larissa, Mytilene and Zakynthos, which can be accessed by someone from the 2nd, 3rd and 4th scientific field. In fact, these are departments with a very low base, which is explained, in part, by the fact that they are located outside Athens, but mainly because, unfortunately, in Greece we still do not fully understand the importance of these professions for our future. In fact, a recent survey shows that only 1% of domestic professionals are involved in this field, which is the lowest percentage in Europe. Of course, there are other departments related to anti-pollution technologies and environmental protection, such as, but not limited to, Geology and Geoenvironment, Oceanography and Marine Biosciences, Mineral Resources Engineering, Agriculture, Materials Science, Physics and Chemical Engineering, with appropriate specialisations. However, a Mathematics, Chemistry, Civil Engineering, Architecture or Computer Science graduate can, with the right postgraduate degree, also join this interesting and crucially important professional sector for the wellbeing of the global community’, Ms Argyropoulou notes. In conclusion, she stresses that young people, regardless of the career path they choose to follow, need to redefine their values with environmental sensitivity, aiming at quality of life, develop »green« and »ecological« skills (environmental awareness, promoting sustainable development, green technology) that cultivate a new »green« role, become aware of modern professions and try to find their aspects linked to sustainability, look for information on climate change, and learn about the environment and the environment.

For the compilation of the new guide, the following collaborated: Maria Divari, Aspasia Karavia, Aristides Lorentzos, Katerina Mikedaki, Nikolaos Muratoglou, Penelope Belki, Panagiota Benekou, Sofia Papatheodorou, Maria Skoulakis and Argyro Harokopaki.

Φ. Dulgeri