ABSTRACT
This article highlights the urgent need to develop Green Human Capital as a strategic enabler for ESG performance. Green human resource encompasses skills and attitudes that support environmental innovation and sustainability goals. The emergence of green jobs across multiple sectors reflects a global shift towards sustainable growth. Education plays a foundational role in shaping future-ready green talents. Collaboration among government, industry, and academia is essential in building a green workforce ecosystem. National regulations support the legal basis for this transition. SW Sustainability Center emerges as a key partner in delivering ESG-focused capacity building. Investing in green human resource is a strategic necessity, not an option.
In the era of modern business that is increasingly focused on sustainability, the role of human capital cannot be ignored. The concept of Human Resource Sustainability is no longer just about employee welfare, but also how organizations build Green Human Capital, namely Human Resources (HR) who have the knowledge, skills, and work attitudes that support environmental protection and green innovation.
Green Human Resources encompasses a set of capabilities related to environmental conservation and sustainable transformation. They are the main drivers in ensuring that companies are not only profit-oriented, but also planet and people-oriented; the three elements of the triple bottom line that are the foundation of ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance).
One of the real manifestations of HR sustainability is the emergence of green jobs, namely jobs that directly contribute to environmental preservation or restoration. Green jobs are present in various sectors, ranging from renewable energy, waste management, sustainable agriculture, to the development of environmentally friendly cities.
Several national regulations that provide legal protection for green jobs, as well as green human capital development, include:
- UU No. 13 of 2003 concerning Employment – although it does not specifically discuss green jobs, this law opens up space for protecting workers in new, sustainable industries.
- UU No. 32 of 2009 on Environmental Protection and Management which is the main legal basis for environmental policy in Indonesia.
- Presidential Regulation No. 61 of 2011 concerning the National Action Plan for Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions, which encourages the industrial sector to be greener and opens up opportunities for green jobs.
- RPJMN 2020–2024 (National Medium-Term Development Plan) which targets low-carbon development as a priority, creating new job demand in renewable energy, clean transport and waste management.
- The Ministry of Manpower through the Green Productivity Specialist Program, in collaboration with the Asian Productivity Organization (APO) and training institutions, is developing human resources to be able to compete in the green sector.
- Ministerial Regulation on Labour No. 5 of 2018 concerning Environmental K3, as part of increasing environmental competence and awareness in the workplace.
- Presidential Regulation No. 111 of 2022 concerning Gender Mainstreaming in National Development – supports inclusion in the sustainable world of work, including for the green sector.
For the company itself, the existence of green human capital is an enabler in improving overall ESG performance. This includes: (1) Improving stakeholder reputation and trust (2) Ensuring long-term sustainability through environmentally friendly innovation (3) Attracting investors who care about sustainable business practices (4) Reducing long-term costs through efficiency and environmental risk management.
Facing the future, organizations can no longer focus solely on developing conventional talent, they must cultivate qualified green talents. These individuals are key to achieving superior ESG performance while also addressing global challenges such as climate change, environmental degradation, and increasing demands for transparency from society.
However, the development of green human capital cannot happen instantly in the workplace. The foundation must be built from the early stages of education. Therefore, education is the root of green human capital.
This can be started either through school curriculum, extracurricular activities, or independent campus programs integrated with green industry practices. Continuous training is an important bridge between the world of education and the world of work.
Universities, training institutions, and industry players must collaborate in developing training modules that align with future needs, such as:
- Energy efficiency and waste management training
- Green productivity certification
- ESG and sustainability reporting workshops
- Green industry internships for students
In realizing this, the government has a central and strategic role in creating an ecosystem that supports the emergence and development of green human capital and green jobs. Through the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Ministry of Manpower, the government promotes the integration of environmental topics, renewable energy, and the green economy into formal and vocational education curriculum.
A curriculum that is adaptive to the needs of the green economy will produce graduates who are ready to work and ready to contribute to low-carbon development. In addition, the Government must be a bridge between the business sector, educational institutions, civil society, and international partners to build centers of excellence in the fields of green jobs and green skills.
To build a greener and more sustainable future, investing in green human capital and the development of green jobs is no longer an option, but a strategic necessity. This transformation requires active collaboration between the education sector, industry, government, and professional training institutions.
The role of our sustainability practitioners recognizes that the role of the SW Sustainability Center is becoming increasingly relevant, as a trusted partner in providing comprehensive learning, awareness, capacity building and advisory programs related to ESG. Through sustainable training and education initiatives, we not only produce a workforce that is ready to face the challenges of the green transition, but also form a generation that is able to lead change for the sustainability of the earth and business. Sustainability Greetings!
