The shift to a circular economy is not just a technological challenge – it is a human one. Between 2000 and 2022, employment in the environmental economy grew faster than in the overall economy1 in the European Union, indicating real opportunity. However, the transition to a green economy also carries risks: skills shortages are already straining businesses, and the impacts of the transition are unlikely to be felt equally — with some sectors, regions, and workers, and in particular women, facing far greater disruption than others.
The EU policy architecture is ambitious. The European Green Deal, the Clean Industrial Deal, the Just Transition Mechanism, and instruments such as the European Social Fund Plus and the Recovery and Resilience Facility all point in the same direction. But ambition on paper does not automatically translate into workforce readiness on the ground. EU industries are navigating multiple constraints: supply chain dependencies, intensifying global competition, high energy prices, and competing investment priorities2.
This webinar explores how Europe is building the workforce it needs to deliver its circular ambitions by 2030. Against the backdrop of key EU policy frameworks, speakers from research, industry, academia, and regional policy will examine what green and circular skills development looks like in practice, who is being left behind, and what systemic change is needed to ensure the transition is both ambitious and fair.
Drawing on lessons from EU-funded projects, industry, academic research and policy, the conversation will move beyond technical solutions to ask the key question: can Europe build a circular-ready workforce that is skilled, inclusive, and leaves no worker or region behind?
The four main guiding questions of the webinar are:
- Where are we really – and who is already falling behind?
- What is actually working on the ground?
- Are training and education systems fit for purpose?
- Can we get there by 2030 — and can we get there fairly?
Webinar details:
Date: July 17
Time: 13:00-14:15 CEST
Format: Webinar, free
The Panel
| Lens | Speaker | Organisation & Role |
| Moderator | Abhimanyu Chakravorty | Technical Communication Coordination, International Solid Waste Association (ISWA) |
| Research & Innovation | Dr Jorge Martins | Senior Scientist, Foresight and Data Economy, VTT Finland (on behalf of EU-funded Wood2Wood project) |
| Academia | Jasmin Baumgartner | PhD Researcher in Sciences, Department of Geography, VUB |
| Industry | Dr Adam Read | Chief External Affairs and Sustainability Officer, SUEZ Recycling and Recovery UK |
| Policy & Regional Government | Miranda Geusens | Facilitator Circular Economy, Circular Flanders |
The agenda
| Time (CEST) | Segment | Details |
| 13:00 – 13:05 | Welcome and Scene-Setting | Moderator frames the problem and introduces the speakers |
| 13:05 – 13:10 | Live Poll for audience | “What is your biggest barrier to green skills development?” (Mentimeter/Slido) |
| 13:10 – 13:42 | Speaker Snapshots (4 × 8 min) | Each speaker shares one key insight or case study |
| 13:42 – 14:04 | Panel Discussion (22 min) | Facilitated discussion around 4 guiding questions |
| 14:04 – 14:10 | Audience Q&A (6 min) | Floor open for audience questions |
| 14:10 – 14:15 | Wrap-up & Key Takeaways (5 min) | Moderator summarises key messages |