Learning for teams | Climate KIC

Through our Climate KIC Academy, we help organisations build the capabilities they need in order to thrive in a world where the climate is changing.

We do this by helping people and organisations develop the skills, leadership and transformation capability they need to success in a low-carbon, resilient and sustainable economy.

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Here’s why transversal skills are essential for accelerating the green transition

1. Driving systemic change - breaking down silos

Climate challenges are complex and interconnected. Addressing them requires systems thinking, the ability to understand and navigate the relationships between economic, social, and environmental factors. Leaders with strong transversal skills can break down silos, identify leverage points for change, and develop holistic solutions that benefit both businesses and communities.

2. Transforming policy and business strategy - embedding sustainability in decision-making

Even the most advanced climate technologies and sustainable practices will not be widely adopted without persuasive leadership and effective communication. Decision-makers in both government and business need transversal skills to integrate sustainability into policy frameworks, corporate strategies, and financial models. Leaders who can advocate for change, influence stakeholders, and embed sustainability into decision-making will be instrumental in accelerating the green transition.

3. Facilitating cross-sector collaboration - Bringing policymakers, businesses, and communities together

The climate crisis is not an issue that any one organisation, industry, or government can solve alone. Collaboration between policymakers, businesses, scientists, and local communities is key. Transversal skills—such as negotiation, stakeholder engagement, and cross-cultural communication—enable professionals to build partnerships, align diverse interests, and drive collective action.

4. Overcoming resistance to change - Managing climate transitions effectively

Transitioning to a green economy often involves disrupting traditional ways of working, which can be met with resistance. Change management skills help leaders anticipate challenges, address concerns, and guide organisations and communities through the transition effectively. Whether it’s securing executive buy-in for net-zero strategies or supporting workers through industry shifts, transversal skills make change more manageable and inclusive.

5. Empowering local and grassroots action - Ensuring equitable, community-driven climate solutions

Why transversal skills are essential for advancing the climate movement

While technical green skills—such as renewable energy expertise, sustainable design, and carbon accounting—are crucial, they are not enough on their own. Transversal skills—which include leadership, systems thinking, collaboration, and change management—are the driving force behind implementing climate solutions at scale.

We bring more than 15 years of experience working with corporates through initiatives such as Pioneers into Practice, the Journey and the Climate KIC Academy, we have trained professionals, sustainability managers, entrepreneurs and corporate leaders, combining systems innovation, leadership development and practical business skills.

Invest in the skills the transition needs

Whether you're equipping your own team or supporting wider access to climate leadership training, your investment helps close the skills gap and move climate solutions from ambition to action. Here's the impact it can have.

Close critical skills gap in leadership and transversal skills

Only 1 in 8 workers has the green skills needed to support the transition to a sustainable economy. The Climate KIC Academy combines technical expertise with the leadership and systems-thinking abilities that turn climate solutions from theory into implementation, building capability where it's needed most.

Create high-impact, scalable solutions

Our programmes equip professionals, policymakers and grassroots advocates with the tools to drive systemic change. Investing in the Academy, for your own team or to widen access for others, helps expand our curriculum, increase accessibility, and grow a global network of climate leaders.

Business team during a meeting in the office

Unlock economic and social opportunities

Investing in climate leadership contributes to workforce readiness, industry transformation and cross-sector collaboration, preparing people to implement solutions that benefit businesses, communities and the planet.

Capacity-building offerings for organisations

Explore the ways we can help your team or organisation build the skills, capabilities and practices the green transition demands. From leadership development to flexible digital courses, each offering can be tailored to your context.

Words from other organisations

For the Department of Sustainability of the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa, whose functions include the organization, coordination, and development of the main actions of the Gipuzkoa Strategy to fight Climate Change, consolidating an active and stable communication relationship with the public is vital. In this sense, the social activation laboratories are the perfect framework for developing this social dialogue, and having CLIMATE KIC, as an expert agent with a transnational vision, is an opportunity to continue making firm progress in the rollout of our Strategy at the regional level. Mónica Pedreira General Director of Ecological Transition – Department of Sustainability (Funder)

The intensive work carried out with the CLIMATE KIC team during the second half of 2024, analyzing and diagnosing the environmental, energy, and climate change situation in the regions of Gipuzkoa, has allowed Naturklima to learn about and utilize the working methodologies of the expert community on climate action. This closeness in addressing environmental issues and their diagnosis is undoubtedly key to the future deployment of social activation laboratories in Gipuzkoa. Xabier Esteban General Director – Naturklima (Funder)

Circular economy requires a combination of existing and new knowledge and policy-making skills. This course was created to address that need, and we are very proud of the results of this partnership between the IDB and Climate KIC. Dr Matteo Grazzi Senior Specialist – Inter-American Development Bank (Funder)

The J-StarX Europe CleanTech Programme, delivered in collaboration with Climate KIC, exceeded our expectations in every phase. From a rigorous and inclusive selection process to a acceleration and overseas experience, the programme empowered our participants with the skills, insights needed to lead the innovation of Clean-tech. The combination of expert-led sessions, personalized mentoring, and immersive experience in Europe created a transformative journey for our future changemakers. We are proud to have partnered on a programme that truly foster climate entrepreneurship. Yusuke Nagao Director of Investment & Innovation Division – JETRO London (Funder)

How to get involved

Join us in accelerating the transition. There are several ways to work with us:

Addressing the gap in transversal and leadership skills is a must

The Climate KIC Academy is equipping professionals with the technical expertise and leadership skills needed to accelerate the green transition. While demand for green skills is rising—with the corporate training market set to grow by $60.4 billion by 2028 (Technavio, 2023)—a critical skills gap remains.

Research from Economist Impact, supported by Iberdrola (2023), found that 79% of business leaders recognise green skills as essential, yet only 55% have programmes in place to develop them. Meanwhile, job postings requiring green skills surged by 22.4% in 2023 (LinkedIn Green Skills Report, 2023), with demand outpacing supply. Beyond technical expertise, leadership and transversal skills—such as systems thinking and change management—are often overlooked but essential for systemic transformation.

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Let’s drive change together

Be part of a movement that’s shaping the future of climate leadership. Join us in preparing individuals and organisations to lead the green transition.

Whatever form your interest takes, we’d like to hear from you. Tell us about your organisation and how you’d like to partner through our partnership interest form, and we’ll be in touch to explore what we can build together.

If you’re interested in us developing a customised learning experience for your team, reach out to Marina Gil Velasco and Pamela Ragazzi, Co-Directors of Education, to start the conversation.

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