Professionals Need to Face Sustainability Issues

In this chapter, Sonia Massari discusses why sustainability issues require new skills and professional profiles. She proposes the idea of sustainability natives, similar to the current digital natives. In terms of food, she says we need to think globally and act locally toward the future. Malnutrition due to unequal distribution of food is a major paradox of food issues. We must protect biodiversity, as it is the basis for society’s future adaption and evolution. We need a common lexicon for sustainability, so that our economic activity can meet the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of the future generations to meet their needs. The Youth Manifesto asks young people to question their future professions and to make real commitments to the future. We need governments and businesses to be prepared to be proactive in retraining people so that everyone can benefit from the fourth Industrial Revolution, because many of the skills considered important today will disappear over time. Soft skills will be very important for reframing problems, communication, empowerment and leadership for change, all of which is not taught in school. There are barriers in the Mediterranean regions, that include territorial inequalities, urbanization, poverty, and generational inequalities. Drivers of change include mobility, ICT, new welfare communities, etc. The incorporation of women into the labor market is important to food security. This chapter is part of Module 10: New Professional Profiles in a Mediterranean Context.

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