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Are We Talking about Green Skills or Sustainability Competences? A Scoping Review Using Scientometric Analysis of Two Apparently Similar Topics in the Field of Sustainability

Author

Listed:
  • Sibilla Montanari

    (Department of Philosophy and Cultural Heritage, Curricula Educational Science, University Ca’ Foscari of Venice, 30123 Venice, Italy)

  • Evi Agostini

    (Department of Teacher Education, Centre for Teacher Education, University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
    Department of Education, Faculty of Philosophy and Education, University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria)

  • Denis Francesconi

    (Department of Teacher Education, Centre for Teacher Education, University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria)

Abstract

The labor market is facing accelerating changes due to ecological challenges and the related increasing efforts towards sustainable development. Preparing learners for the world of work now requires an understanding of what skills workers will need to adequately address these changes. To deal with this issue, the research community has started to define “sustainability competences” and “green skills” to support educationalists and decision-makers to better manage the impact of sustainability on future jobs. However, in the current literature, the difference between “sustainability competences” and “green skills” is not clear. The aim of this article is to highlight the differences between the two concepts in order to support the dialogue between the various disciplines that address these topics. This paper is a scoping review that provides an outline of the scientometric analyses of publications in the field of sustainability, from the earliest in 1998 up to July 2023. Although the terms are interrelated, using the R package for analysis shows that “green skills” tends to refer more to specific environmental technical skills, while “sustainability competences” are primarily defined as key competences to promote the different dimensions of sustainability, i.e., competences useful for holistic human development

Suggested Citation

  • Sibilla Montanari & Evi Agostini & Denis Francesconi, 2023. "Are We Talking about Green Skills or Sustainability Competences? A Scoping Review Using Scientometric Analysis of Two Apparently Similar Topics in the Field of Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-25, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:19:p:14142-:d:1246834
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Martin B. Carstensen & Christian Lyhne Ibsen & Ida Marie Nyland Jensen, 2026. "Integrating ecosocial policies through polycentric governance: A study of the green transformation of Danish vocational education and training," Regulation & Governance, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 20(2), pages 419-437, April.
    2. Martin B. Carstensen & Christian Lyhne Ibsen & Ida Marie Nyland Jensen & Bjarke Lund‐Sørensen, 2026. "Mapping Green Skills in Collective Skill Formation Systems: A Natural Language Processing Analysis of Danish Vocational Education and Training," Regulation & Governance, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 20(2), pages 524-543, April.
    3. Georgios Sotiropoulos & Eleni Didaskalou & Fragiskos Bersimis & Georgios Kosyvas & Konstantina Agoraki, 2025. "Exploring the Role of Innovative Teaching Methods Using ICT Educational Tools for Engineering Technician Students in Accelerating the Green Transition," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-21, July.
    4. Bogdan Fleacă & Gheorghe Militaru & Elena Fleacă, 2024. "Reinforcement of Workforce Training Programs—Insights from Pilot Testing Process to Enhance Greening Practices in Enterprises," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(23), pages 1-19, November.
    5. Martin B. Carstensen & Niccolo Durazzi & Patrick Emmenegger & Jane Gingrich, 2026. "Meeting the Twin Challenge in Times of Labor Shortage: How Modern Societies Promote Future Skills for the Digital and Green Transitions," Regulation & Governance, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 20(2), pages 471-481, April.
    6. Oliver Wegenberger & Ivo Ponocny, 2025. "Green Skills Are Not Enough: Three Levels of Competences from an Applied Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(1), pages 1-22, January.

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