Opening Remarks by Mr James George at the UNDP Hydrogen Industry Talent Development Summit

November 28, 2024

Distinguished guests, ladies, and gentlemen,
Good morning.

On behalf of the United Nations Development Programme in China, I would like to welcome you all to the UNDP Hydrogen Industry Talent Development Summit here in Foshan – a city at the forefront of the hydrogen industry in China.

Today, we meet at a crucial time in history.

The world continues to face the far-reaching impacts of climate change as we’ve seen all-time highs in temperature over the last several years and increasing numbers of natural disasters occurring as result. The urgency of a low-carbon transition has never been greater – one that not only addresses environmental risks, but also creates sustainable employment opportunities and strengthens resilience.

As such, today’s summit is centered on the need to cultivate talent in the hydrogen industry. Hydrogen is an excellent example of a sector that with a modern, skilled workforce, can be an integral part of the development of a broader green economy.

Indeed, as we are recovering from the global challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the green economy provides a unique opportunity to create new jobs and stimulate economic growth.

The International Labor Organization estimates that the green economy has the potential to create 24 million jobs worldwide by 2030.

However, to fully realize this potential, we must address a critical gap: the shortage of skilled professionals. A 2022 survey by the China International Intellectech Corporation found that “83% of manufacturers faced challenges in recruiting skilled labor.” According to projections by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, this trend is expected to continue, with a shortfall of 30 million skilled workers anticipated in ten key manufacturing sectors by 2025.

Solving this problem will require a comprehensive approach that leverages Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) systems. To that end, allow me to highlight three key areas that it will be important to focus on:

"The urgency of a low-carbon transition has never been greater – one that not only addresses environmental risks, but also creates sustainable employment opportunities and strengthens resilience."

Firstly, it is critical to align TVET curricula with the latest industry standards and technological advancements and ensure that gender considerations are incorporated. This includes integrating gender-responsive training on hydrogen production, storage, transportation, and application technologies.

Secondly, companies should provide on-the-job training programs for their employees, especially women. Regular inputs from businesses on the latest skills requirements and standard operations can help ensure the quality of the workforce, and support efforts to advance diversity, equity, and inclusivity (DEI).

Lastly, leveraging digital learning platforms can help expand access to flexible learning opportunities to a broader base of potential employees. Online courses and virtual labs can cater to a wider audience as well as diverse learning needs, including for youth, women, and people with disabilities (PwD).

Effective TVET systems do more than provide education – they ensure real, accessible, gender-responsive employment and career progression opportunities.

Since 2003, UNDP has been supporting the Ministry of Science and Technology and the China Automotive Technology and Research Center (CATARC) in advancing hydrogen fuel-cell development. Through this partnership, in 2019 we launched the Foshan TVET pilot project to train the hydrogen and fuel cell industry, and in 2023, this project was expanded to Changshu.

In total, 322 technical youth, including 48 girls (15%), have graduated and will graduate from the vocational college and 9 teachers trained under the project, contributing to a total of 1,366 trained students and 49 trained teachers for the hydrogen workforce in the Greater Bay Area .

Moving forward, UNDP remains committed to supporting and collaborating with all sectors in advancing sustainable solutions to advance development of the green economy through policy dialogues, technical cooperation, joint programs, and knowledge sharing of international best practices and standards.

I am confident that this summit will serve as a catalyst for progress and innovation in the hydrogen industry.

Thank you to everyone for joining us today and to the Nanhai District Gov of Foshan City for their warm hospitality.

Together we can build a sustainable, green, and inclusive future, where no one is left behind.

Thank you.