The European Green Deal’s secret weapon: Education

As the EU and its Member States make significant investments in green technologies and infrastructure, it is imperative to address the human element of this transition. There is a pressing need for a specialised workforce, and many countries are already experiencing shortages in key areas. At the same time, the success of the Green Deal depends on the ability of citizens to understand and adopt new technologies and practices.  

Education as a driver in the green energy transition era 

Climate change can be regarded as a disruptive "black swan" event, compelling the allocation of substantial financial resources for investments in renewable energy sources, advanced energy infrastructure, energy storage solutions, hydrogen-based technologies, energy efficiency, and other sustainable innovations. However, I propose examining this situation from a different perspective - one that merges social, civic, and professional dimensions. 

Many EU countries have implemented support programmes to encourage the adoption of renewable energy systems in residential and commercial sectors, leading to a significant increase in the number of prosumers. However, even if they are not always aware of their lack of energy literacy, a considerable share of the consumers of this new renewable capacity (including some prosumers) do not fully understand how their behaviour impacts the grid or the potential benefits of their choices in the energy system. 

This phenomenon observed among the general population can be linked to the Dunning-Kruger effect - the tendency to overestimate one's understanding of the complex implications of the energy system. This is not surprising, considering that energy infrastructure and market dynamics require advanced technical and economic knowledge, which is often inaccessible to individuals outside these fields. Based on the scientific foundation of this idea, another phenomenon with profound societal implications has emerged in public discourse: the artificial conversion of opinions into knowledge (pseudo-knowledge). 

This phenomenon emphasises the importance of equipping citizens with the tools and resources needed to make informed decisions, particularly in areas like energy policy, where public opinion increasingly influences regulatory outcomes. This calls for a deliberate effort to enhance individual capacity to engage with complex topics, including re-skilling initiatives and adapted educational programmes that enable citizens to grasp the intricacies of technological and economic systems altogether. Addressing the need for informed decision-making is not solely an intellectual endeavour but a fundamental step toward cultivating a knowledgeable and adaptable society equipped to navigate the complexities of a rapidly evolving energy sector, where all of us must play an active role.  

The fundamental question arises: what is the gap between the pace of technological advancement and the average level of energy literacy within civil society? 

The Green Deal education initiative – Education First

To address these issues, I recommend, as a EUSEW Young Energy Ambassador, central and regional authorities to make education a cornerstone of the European Green Deal. This could be done by launching the program: The Green Deal education initiative – Education First. This initiative would support educational institutions - schools, high schools, universities, and parent associations - in adapting existing curricula and creating new educational subjects centred on the green transition.

I fully understand that the European Union has limited competences in the field of education and cannot directly change curricula or mandate new subjects, however, it can play a supporting role by collaborating with EU countries and their Education Ministries. The EU’s role should involve scaling up existing best practices, facilitating knowledge-sharing platforms, and providing financial and technical support to EU countries to adapt and enhance their educational frameworks.  

For younger generations, education is of great importance, as they will become the principal actors in achieving long-term climate goals, developing sustainable skills and competencies. For users of green technologies, whether it is residential, commercial use, or use by local public authorities, educational programmes are vital to maximising the efficiency of these technologies and facilitating their integration into daily practices. 

Furthermore, technical education and vocational training for those working in the production, installation, and maintenance of these technologies are important to ensuring the optimal performance of green technologies across all sectors. In parallel with the investment programmes, the European Union must support EU countries in implementing large-scale educational programmes by providing financial and logistical assistance to universities, research centres, and high schools, thereby ensuring an efficient and sustainable transition for all stakeholders involved. 

To unlock a large-scale adoption of green technologies, several practical measures and actions are required. First and foremost, the training of teaching staff is a priority, as educators play a key role in preparing future generations. This would require financial support, and continuous professional development programmes will enable them to integrate sustainability-related topics into school curricula, equipping young people to face the challenges of the green transition. 

Secondly, for the existing workforce, reskilling programmes such as “Back to School”¹ will facilitate the transition to roles within the green economy, providing the competencies required to meet new market demands. Lastly, community involvement through local campaigns and parent associations is essential for reinforcing sustainability values and promoting lifelong learning, as well as fostering a culture of sustainability across society. These measures are fundamental to the success of the transition to a green and sustainable future. 

The Green Energy Transition will not happen without taking citizens on board, and doing so requires a historic educational effort. The “Green Deal education initiative – Education First” has the potential to mark a historic moment in transforming the European educational system, aligning it with the demands of a sustainable future. By prioritising education, we can cultivate a well-informed and skilled workforce capable of driving the ecological transition and supporting the European Union’s ambitious sustainability goals. 

Recommended links

1. Green education initiatives
2. Does citizen participation improve acceptance of a Green Deal? Evidence from choice experiments in Ukraine and Switzerland
3. Fairness perceptions of the green transition

About the author

Alexandru Muresan is a researcher, entrepreneur, and educator in the field of energy transition. A member of the Energy Transition Researcher Centre at the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, he is also the CEO of Renergia, Romania’s first sustainability app, which helps users lower energy bills and protect the planet. 

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¹ The "Back to School Re-skilling Program" could be implemented through partnerships with technical universities and high schools to train citizens whose jobs are impacted by the green transition. With financial support from the EU, these programs would offer practical courses to prepare individuals for opportunities in renewable energy, energy efficiency, and sustainable technologies.