Interview | ‘Skilling labour is an important aspect of the low-carbon transition’

Transition to low carbon economy requires reskilling workers, adapting to renewable energy, and ensuring marginalized communities are not left behind.

As the world attempts to transition to a low carbon economy, there is growing concern over those who could possibly left behind in the process. This is particularly acute when considering job redundancies across sectors. Ulka Kelkar, who heads the climate, economics and finance programme at the World Resources Institute, India, told The Hindu, that the new low-carbon paradigm would require accessibility of hands to facilitate manufacturing, but also to ensure that the existing workers are re-adopted as the landscape evolves.

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Ulka: This will be a major aspect because the foremost transition is about fuel shifting from (conventional) coal, oil or fossil fuel to solar, wind, hydro and renewable energy. The main issue with this is renewable energy (RE) cannot be generated unless the sun is shining, or the wind is blowing, unlike coal or gas power plant, which can generate electricity at any point. Therefore, storage of renewable energy, or timing of your operation becomes essential, and different from the conventional methods.  

Some of the transitions, will happen in industrial applications, where you cannot change the fuel. Say, you want hot or boiling water, very high heat or process emissions (say cement manufacturing from clinkers). RE cannot help there. It is a different process. 

The third aspect of it is the use of more efficient machines for industries. But when you have more efficiency, this means you may need fewer people.  

So, in all of this, you need to either become more skilled or be accommodated in a different part of the manufacturing chain – mandating reskilling. Even in sectors like agriculture, where you may presume not much in terms of skilling, new methods of cultivation and new feed for livestock may emerge because these lead to reduction in greenhouse gas (emissions). 

Ulka: I would say both. It would depend on sector to sector and segment to segment of the industry.