India's Green Skilling Challenge: Bridging the Gap for Sustainable Growth

India is confronting a looming challenge of underutilizing its demographic dividend, as nearly 12 million young individuals join the workforce yearly, yet a mere 10% receive green skill training. This revelation emerges from the 'Youth for a Sustainable India' report by UNICEF YuWaah, in collaboration with various partners.

The report signals a concerning mismatch between demand and supply in the green jobs sector. Globally, green skill requirements rose by 22.4% from 2022 to 2023, whereas the talent pool expanded by only 12.3%. India's potential to generate 35 million green jobs by 2047 highlights the urgency of closing this skills gap.

Key sectors identified include agriculture, construction, textiles, waste management, and electric vehicles. The report advocates for aligned strategies in training and employment, gender-sensitive programs, and enhanced infrastructure in smaller cities to address structural challenges and foster an inclusive green transition.