The YouthXchange Green Skills and Lifestyles Guidebook

Today, young people under the age of 25 are the largest generation of youth in human history. They represent half of the world’s population, living mostly in developing countries. An estimated 33,000 young people are expected to enter the job market every day between now and 2050. This generation is highly educated, but they face steep barriers in securing decent jobs, entering and remaining in the labour market. With nearly 75 million unemployed young people around the world, they are three times more likely to be unemployed than adults.

Education about the green economy is essential to enable young people to participate fully in the transition to a low carbon, resource efficient and socially inclusive economy. Many young people are aware of the green economy, but they need more information to understand how to make it real – locally, nationally and internationally.

This Guidebook helps young people connect the talk about the green economy, green societies and green jobs to their lifestyles. It focuses on the skills required to make these transitions – providing case studies and insight on green jobs and the skills they will require in terms of social innovation and entrepreneurship, the role of different stakeholders (government and private sector) and life skills.