BLOG: The antidote is action – and there is no better time than now
Groundwork Youth Advisory Board member, Alanis shares her views why environmental jobs are more than just an economic opportunity – but a pathway towards a greener future for us all.
Over the last few years, mental health has become a hot topic amplified by the Covid-19 pandemic creating levels of panic and precarity that many hadn’t experienced before. It was perhaps then that many of us realised how important it is to go for a walk in a local green space to clear our heads and recharge. It was perhaps then that we also realised that our green spaces might not be taken care of, or they’re too far, inaccessible, or feel unsafe.
Despite this, it seems as if we might have missed the link between good mental health, employment and access to nature. Groundwork’s latest research project – supported by myself and members of the Groundwork Youth Advisory Board – sheds light upon the interconnectedness of these issues to advocate for the youth voice in policy. It reveals that young people want government initiatives that prevent crises from happening and that create accessible green job pathways – that is, roles that make a positive contribution to the environment and support mental health by offering meaningful work.
As someone that was going through education during the pandemic, and getting ready to enter the labour force, I quickly became disillusioned with the lack of opportunities to work in a meaningful job. Though the word ‘meaningful’ is subjective, for many young people like me, it simply meant a job that did not involve destroying the planet and paid enough to live comfortably. Surprisingly, this seemed to be a high bar. At a time where we were clinging to our sanity through our government-regulated daily walks, we were also battling to find any ‘entry level’ jobs that didn’t require multiple years of experience.
Working takes up such a significant portion of our lifetime that it is only natural to gravitate towards jobs that align with our values. I was privileged to have encountered Groundwork’s New to Nature programme, which connected young people to opportunities in the environmental sector, because it gave me the opportunity to gain practical skills and see first-hand how essential it is for young people to have a say in policy and decision-making in environmental spaces.
Environmental charities are generally perceived as the main provider for green jobs. Nevertheless, green jobs don’t need to be confined to the environmental sector. Sustainable careers can exist in any field if organisations embrace sustainability across their operations to support the net zero transition. Encouraging businesses to embed these values will widen the pool of opportunities that interest and benefit young people which will simultaneously improve mental health and environmental outcomes.
Groundwork’s report acts as a fresh reminder that green jobs are more than just an economic opportunity – they are a pathway towards a greener, healthier future us all. Young people are ready to innovate and bring fresh perspectives to the workplace. After all, the antidote is action and there is no better time for action than now.