To avoid a final collapse of our ecosystems, countermeasures must be taken now. In particular, it is important to rely exclusively on renewable energy in the near future and use them much more efficiently than today. Companies are also required to ensure greater sustainability. The following article shows how they can achieve this task by qualifying their employees accordingly.
It is time for a paradigm shift, not only in politics but also in research and development. The economy is also not an exception. Significant progress has been made in the Technology sector in recent years, be it through scalable renewable energy sources and storage solution or improvements regarding energy efficiency. However, it is required to implement the developed energy supply strategies. Therefore, many companies are already working hard to adjust their business models and implement new technologies.
Climate protection in companies pays off
It makes sense for companies to prioritize climate protection for several reasons: Firstly, by achieving climate neutrality and sustainable business practices, they can conserve resources and reduce their carbon footprint. To do this, it is necessary to anchor the topic of "sustainability" in their strategy, involve employees in the change, and therefore engage with the state of research. Secondly, environmentally-awareness actions are also an attractive factor and can have multiple positive effects on the company:
1. Appreciation from customers
According to a survey by the Federal Environment Agency, 65 percent of Germans consider environmental and climate protection to be a very important topic. The population is now well-informed about the human-made changes in global and regional climate. As consumers, they therefore value responsible behavior from companies to protect our environment.
2. Employer attractiveness
Employees are increasingly paying attention to whether their potential employer acts responsibly and whether they can identify with their values. Therefore, those who want to find and retain good professionals must adopt a climate-conscious attitude and implement it in their business practices.
3. Attractiveness for investors
As shown by PwC's Global Investors Survey 2022, investors also value climate-awareness behavior in companies. According to the survey, 37 percent of investors consider climate change to be one of the biggest threats to companies in the next five years. It's no wonder that as climate disasters can quickly lead to interrupted business processes, destroyed infrastructure, and disrupted supply chains. The investors see appropriate countermeasures as an economic advantage. To mitigate investors' concerns regarding the potential for greenwashing, companies need to incorporate climate neutrality directly into their strategy and core business, thereby ensuring transparency.
The be-all and end-all: build up energy competence
To successfully transition towards environmental friendliness, companies rely on the cooperation of their employees. Therefore, it is essential to involve them in the company's new strategy and the associated changes. It is also important to promote a broader and deeper understanding of "sustainability," for example, through further education and training. As the technical developments that enable the energy transition pose new challenges for personnel, companies can remain competitive only by constantly monitoring and strategically developing their internal expertise. Measures for employee training ensure that the latest research findings are incorporated into the company's operations.
Opportunities to build up know-how
The range of training and study options in the field of Energy Engineering is broad. For employees, the first step is to determine which topics align with their interests and career goals. In the next step, it is important to define together with the employer which tasks they can take on and which qualifications and further education are required for them. If a new role is to be created in the company, such as an Energy Sustainability Manager, a comprehensive qualification is often necessary. This can be achieved through a postgraduate degree program, which provides not only in-depth technical knowledge but also management skills. Continuing education measures that can be pursued while working, such as the "Energy Engineering and Management" degree program at the HECTOR School of Engineering and Management, enable companies to train their employees without having to forego valuable manpower.
Conclusion: Companies need to take action now
The climate crisis, resource scarcity, and collapsing ecosystems - the prospects for life on this planet are more alarming now than ever before. The good news is that things are starting to move. Research has already brought numerous alternative solutions on the way. To accomplish the transformation, it takes not only brilliant researchers and responsible business leaders, but also qualified and committed people in as many positions in companies as possible. Further education in the field of Energy Engineering and Management enables them to take an active role in their organization's energy transition. For companies, it means acting now and equipping their employees with the necessary skills through appropriate measures.
You can find more information about the requirements for a sustainable and stable energy system, the current technological research status, and its transfer into industry in the free whitepaper "Future Discipline Energy Engineering". Additionally, you can learn about how companies can further educate their employees in the field of Energy Engineering and Management. Learn more in the free download of the whitepaper "Future Discipline Energy Engineering".
Author Profile
Martina Waldner
Senior Program Consultant
+49 721 608 - 47880
info∂hectorschool.com
Martina Waldner is a graduate in business administration with an MBA. She studied at the Technische Hochschule Nürnberg, Westmoreland County Community College (USA), University of East London, and Ca' Foscari University of Venice. She has 20 years of consulting experience and has been a Senior Program Consultant at HECTOR School, the Technology Business School of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), since 2011. Her focus is on advising companies, professionals, and executives on continuing education through Master of Science programs, certificate courses, and customized transfer qualifications.
