As the world accelerates its transition towards cleaner energy, OPITO, the global, not-for-profit skills body, has launched a new sustainability standard to support employers and learners across the globe.
Developed in collaboration with governments, employers, and industry stakeholders, the standard provides a clear and consistent way for the workforce to build a strong knowledge and understanding of sustainability.
Meeting a global challenge
Every nation is navigating its own path to lower carbon emissions. Yet the global ambition remains the same: to reduce carbon emissions and move towards cleaner energy solutions.
“Around the world, countries are at different stages of their energy transition journey,” explains Ewen Hay, OPITO’s Director of Products and Services. “But the shared aspiration is clear. As a result, there’s a global desire to educate and inform the workforce about alternative energy solutions in a consistent way.”
OPITO’s new Sustainability Training Standard gives employers across safety-critical industries a practical, flexible route to prepare their people for the present and future demands of the energy transition.
Building sustainability expertise across the workforce
Designed for learners at all stages – from early careers to experienced professionals – OPITO’s Sustainability Training Standard is open to all, with no entry requirements.
The standard’s learning outcomes cover a comprehensive range of sustainability topics. Learners explore:
- The global context for sustainability and climate change
- The rationale for reducing carbon emissions
- Key alternative energy sources, including hydrogen, wind, solar, and carbon capture and storage (CCS)
- Local and global policies driving the transition to net-zero emissions
Participants learn how sustainability principles apply within industry and wider business settings. They also understand the contribution different energy sources make to both national and international carbon reduction goals.
“All learners who complete this training will have a greater understanding of sustainability in a global business context,” says Hay. “The standard provides participants with a really comprehensive understanding of alternative energy sources, the future energy mix, and aspirations of local governments to meet climate change targets.”
Global consistency, local relevance
OPITO’s Sustainability Training Standard offers employers consistent sustainability education for global teams while tailoring the learning experience to reflect local contexts. The standard combines international best practices with local strategies to make learning both globally consistent and regionally relevant.
For Hay, this balance is essential. “The standard is a trusted, globally relevant source of information that can also be contextualised to fit regional differences,” he explains. “Employers can be confident that their people are learning from an industry-recognized standard, with scope to reflect regional carbon reduction aspirations.
Developed in close collaboration with industry
Like all its products, OPITO’s Sustainability Training Standard was developed through close collaboration with industry stakeholders, and with governments and employers around the world.
This partnership-led approach underpins OPITO’s wider mission to support safety-critical industries through high-quality, globally-recognized training frameworks.
While the Sustainability Training Standard is a standalone product in its own right, it can complement some of OPITO’s other offerings – like its Introduction to Energy qualifications – for learners who wish to explore energy industry topics in more detail.
Preparing the workforce for the future
For employers, the energy transition brings both challenge and opportunity. The workforce must evolve in step with industry changes as new technologies and energy sources emerge.
“Now is the time for employers to train their workforce and get them ready for the changes ahead,” says Hay. “OPITO’s Sustainability Training Standard provides a valuable vehicle for organizations to give their people the knowledge they’ll need to work confidently across the future energy mix.”
Empowering learners for the energy transition
The launch of the Sustainability Training Standard reinforces OPITO’s commitment to supporting an industry in transition. As the global energy mix continues to diversify, OPITO remains focused on developing new, relevant solutions that reflect emerging technologies and changing workforce demands.
“We’re firmly focused on meeting the needs of employers and learners as the energy sector evolves,” Hay concludes. “This is just one step in OPITO’s ongoing journey to equip the global workforce with the skills and knowledge they need to play their part in shaping the future.”
More about OPITO
OPITO is the global skills authority for the energy industry. There are over 500,000 OPITO registrations every year, across 50 countries through 240 accredited training centres.
OPITO works to develop a safe, skilled and competent workforce by driving global standards and qualifications, creating workforce development solutions and leading dialogue with industries and governments. With operation centres in four regions – UK and Europe, Middle East and Africa, Asia Pacific and the Americas – OPITO is driving safety and competency improvements to benefit the industry and providing career pathways and training opportunities for the current workforce and the next generation.
To learn more, please visit www.opito.com.
