Green skills for implementing public policy programs

An essential prerequisite for the transition towards a sustainable economy in competitive international markets is the development of "green skills"—a set of competencies that integrates domain-specific expertise with a deep understanding of processes, alongside personal values and pro-environmental attitudes. While existing literature has extensively analyzed skill development within private firms and enterprises, a notable gap remains in the study of skill formation within public institutions and organizations. This lack of empirical research is particularly striking given that current findings in human resource management highlight the critical role of public and non-private actors in skill development, especially regarding fields like artificial intelligence (AI). Public entities are positioned to engage societal groups traditionally underrepresented in conventional training and coaching initiatives. Furthermore, evidence suggests that findings from the private sector have limited external validity when applied to public administration contexts. Addressing this gap, the objective of this working group is to establish a robust, conceptually grounded, and empirically informed understanding of the role of "green skills" in implementing public funding schemes that support the transition to a sustainable economy. The initial phase will concentrate on local governments—including cities, municipalities, and local authorities—and their public support programs targeted at private households.