The green transition is no longer a distant ambition. It is being built today - in classrooms, laboratories, workshops and start-up spaces, by young people who are turning sustainability into real solutions. This message was at the heart of the Green Skills Award 2025, presented in Turin during the EU-Italy Energy Days.
This year’s top prize went to North Macedonia, but the shortlist itself tells a broader story. Projects from Türkiye, Spain, Tunisia and Kazakhstan stood side by side, reflecting how global and competitive the green skills agenda has become, DKNews.kz reports.
First place: a system built over nearly two decades
The overall winner, North Macedonia’s “Best Business Concept for Green Innovation”, is not a one-off initiative. It is a long-running national programme that has been active for more than 18 years, engaging secondary school and university students together with their teachers in green entrepreneurship.
Each year, participants develop more than 30 concrete green business ideas, supported by universities, vocational excellence centres and EU-funded programmes. The initiative creates a direct link between education and employment, giving young people the chance to develop, pitch and scale ideas with real market potential. This combination of continuity, scale and practical impact secured the top ranking.
Türkiye and Spain: solar energy and data-driven climate learning
Second place went to Türkiye’s Solar School project in Antalya. Targeting young people aged 18–29 who are outside education and the labour market, the programme equips participants with job-ready skills in renewable energy. Online learning is combined with hands-on training at photovoltaic stations, followed by tailored employment support that helps graduates enter the fast-growing solar sector.
Spain placed third with POWAR STEAM, an initiative from Barcelona that brings climate education to life through data and technology. Students use environmental sensors, analyse real measurements and test climate scenarios, strengthening digital skills, critical thinking and sustainability literacy. Climate science here becomes something students actively explore, not just read about.
Kazakhstan among the finalists: training for clean energy and regions
Kazakhstan’s presence among the finalists drew particular attention. The shortlisted project from Mangystau Energy College focuses on dual training in renewable energy.
The programme combines classroom learning, laboratory practice and industrial placements, preparing students for installation, diagnostics, maintenance and automation of renewable energy systems. Strong links with regional employers ensure that training matches labour market needs, while the programme also supports future specialists in bringing energy solutions to rural and underserved areas.
Being shortlisted among the world’s best initiatives highlights Kazakhstan’s growing role in green skills development and its focus on building a future-ready workforce.
#ForOurPlanet Award: circular economy starts at school
A new category introduced in 2025, the #ForOurPlanet Award, recognises excellence in circular economy education. This year’s winner was a student-led project from Malaysia.
Using black soldier fly bioconversion, students transform food waste into compost and animal feed. The initiative combines hands-on science, behaviour change and inclusive learning, showing how circular economy principles can be taught effectively from an early age.
Why the Green Skills Award matters
Since its launch in 2021, the Green Skills Award has become a global reference point. Over five editions, it has attracted more than 1,350 applications from over 60 countries and generated tens of thousands of public votes.
The message is clear: green skills are not only about environmental protection. They are about competitiveness, resilience, adapting to technological change and preparing societies for future shocks. The 2025 finalists demonstrated how local initiatives can deliver solutions with relevance far beyond their borders.
Looking ahead to 2026
The call for applications for the Green Skills Award 2026 was officially launched alongside this year’s ceremony. It signals that the race for a sustainable future is accelerating, with education and skills at its core.
The results of 2025 show one thing unmistakably: the green transition does not start with declarations. It starts with people learning, experimenting and building solutions - and Kazakhstan is clearly part of that global movement.
