The global skills and competency framework for the digital world

#1565 Extend SFIA Sustainability skill (SUST) to Levels 1–3 to enable entry-level ESG workforce pathways change request pending

Add level descriptors for SUST at Levels 1, 2, and 3 to address the absence of an entry-level sustainability competency pathway in SFIA 9.

Problem Statement: The SFIA 9 Sustainability skill (SUST) is currently defined only at Levels 4–6. This creates a structural gap where organisations building broad ESG literacy across their workforce have no SFIA-defined competency reference for junior, graduate, or operational roles engaged in sustainability activities. The TBM for Sustainability & ESG Framework requires organisations to embed sustainability accountability across all levels of the technology workforce — not only at senior practitioner and managerial levels.

Proposed Change: Introduce level descriptors for SUST at:

  • Level 1 – Follows defined sustainability procedures; records sustainability-relevant data (e.g., energy consumption, waste volumes) under supervision.
  • Level 2 – Applies sustainability guidelines to routine tasks; contributes to data collection for ESG reporting; supports team sustainability initiatives.
  • Level 3 – Assists in evaluating sustainability impacts of operational decisions; contributes to ESG data quality; implements sustainability practices within own area of responsibility.

Rationale:

·        Aligns SFIA with the TBM ESG requirement for organisation-wide ESG literacy.

·        Enables HR and L&D professionals to define green role profiles at all levels.

·        Supports regulatory trends (CSRD, IFRS/ISSB, ASRS) requiring demonstrable workforce capability at all levels.

·        Removes the critical gap identified in Section 2.2 of the gap analysis.

Applies to: SUST — Sustainability

Change Note: New level descriptors proposed for Levels 1, 2, and 3. No modification proposed to existing Levels 4–6 descriptors.

Proposed change applies to Sustainability

Current status of this request: pending

Tim Prosser
Oct 03, 2026 12:45 am

CR Update following industry review;

Draft descriptors cover following procedures and collecting data for reporting. They leave out the operational core, which is finding and removing waste and knowing whether a figure is measured or modelled. The wording below keeps the request's structure, strengthens levels 1 to 3 and adds level 7.

Recommended Change Proposed;
Level 1 - Follows defined procedures to record energy, consumption and asset data. Reports obvious waste, such as equipment or services left running when not needed.
Level 2 - Collects and checks operational data against defined measures, recording its source and whether it is measured or estimated. Applies agreed practices to remove waste in own work, such as switching off unused resources.
Level 3 - Analyses consumption and utilisation to identify idle, oversized or inefficient resources. Recommends and implements agreed improvements within own area. Distinguishes measured data from modelled estimates and records the method used.
Level 7 - Sets organisational direction for environmental sustainability across technology and the wider organisation. Holds accountability for outcomes against public commitments and regulatory obligations. Makes environmental impact a factor in investment, sourcing and architecture decisions, and requires assured evidence behind external claims.