The Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM)
11 min
Level
In this article we’ll explore what the CBAM is, why it’s been created, and what importers need to know ahead of its introduction.
The voice of impact
ESG / CSR
Industries
Ecology
Greenly solutions
US
US
5 Sustainability Jobs You Could Like
Level
In today’s society, the younger generation entering the workforce is more pre-occupied with pursuing sustainability jobs than ever before – with over 40% of Millennials and Gen Z alike willing to switch jobs for the sake of the environment.
As the climate change crisis worsens, more people are becoming interested in jobs that stray away from traditional corporate jobs in place of sustainability jobs which could actively help global warming, deforestation, wildlife protection, avoid social injustices, and more.
In this article, we’ll explain what sustainability jobs are and potential sustainability jobs that may interest you to work in or for your company to offer.
What are sustainability jobs?
Sustainability jobs refer to job roles which address the issues created by climate change and promote the need for environmentally responsible practices, such as by improving ESG factors, helping to conserve natural resources, and protecting the environment and surrounding wildlife.
💡 In fact, 24 million sustainability jobs could be created as a result of the transition to a greener economy – as industries worldwide continue to make an effort to reduce their emissions and reorganize their business models to comply with environmental regulations.
“ “For people interested in a career in sustainability, this means opportunity. The chance to make a difference. To use innovation and creativity to solve some of the most complex and important challenges of our time. To engage in something truly meaningful. And to be in demand as a skilled professional.” – Blogwriter at Charles Sturt University. ”
Close
Breakdown of Sustainability Jobs
Sustainability jobs aren’t exclusive to one field, as these jobs can exist across multivarious industries – in the same way that trees can exist in different forms across multiple regions with varying climates.
Here are some of the key elements to sustainability jobs:
- Protecting the Environment – Sustainability jobs will often focus on developing the use of renewable energy, reducing waste, preserving biodiversity, and improving air quality.
- Social Justice – In addition to protecting the environment, sustainability jobs often seek to improve social injustices such as unequal access to healthcare by helping to stimulate a cleaner economy.
- Specialized Expertise – As sustainability jobs require knowledge from several fields in order to prove effective, those seeking sustainability jobs will often need a background in business, policy, environmental science, and even communications to ensure effective discourse with suppliers and stakeholders alike.
Remember, sustainability jobs can take place across a wide variety of industries, such as:
- Sustainable agriculture or climate smart farming
- Assistance with corporate social responsibility (CSR)
- Providing expertise in environmental policy
- Development of renewable energy
Qualifications for Sustainability Jobs
In order to work a sustainability job, it will be required to foster good communication and teamwork skills in addition to a suitable post-graduate degree in your related field.
Here’s a breakdown of the common requirements for those who seek sustainability jobs:
- Good Communication Skills – Working in sustainability often requires both interpersonal and business communication skills to effectively explain the requirements of your current project to both internal and external parties.
- Analytical Skills – Jobs in sustainability often demand analytical skills, such as those who work with animal life to assess wildlife populations or to collect and analyze data on current air pollution to improve upon these circumstances later.
- Previous Experience in Sustainability – As sustainability becomes more imperative to pay close attention to, many companies prefer someone who has experience with a role in sustainability to ensure accuracy and thoughtfulness in their approaches to developing sustainable solutions.
- Background in Project Management – Sustainability jobs often require time management and experience in handling large projects. After all, tackling sustainability in any field is never an overnight solution.
Postgraduate Degree – While this may not be required for all sustainability jobs, acquiring a postgraduate degree can often highlight to employers your specialized skillsets to be used in future sustainability projects. However, it is important to note that an undergraduate degree in a relevant field and previous work experience is still sufficient for those who wish to pursue sustainability jobs.
Sustainability Job Requirements
| Job Title | Requirements |
|---|---|
| Ecologist |
- Bachelor's or Master's in Ecology, Environmental Science, or Biology - Fieldwork experience and data analysis skills - Knowledge of GIS tools |
| Sustainability Manager |
- Bachelor's in Environmental Science, Business, or related field - Leadership and project management experience - Familiarity with corporate sustainability standards (e.g., GRI, CDP) |
| Sustainability Consultant |
- Bachelor's or Master's in Environmental Policy, Business, or Engineering - Analytical and problem-solving skills - Expertise in sustainability reporting and compliance |
| Renewable Energy Specialist |
- Degree in Engineering, Renewable Energy, or related field - Technical knowledge of renewable energy systems - Certification in solar, wind, or other technologies (optional) |
| Green Architect |
- Degree in Architecture with a focus on sustainability - Knowledge of LEED standards and green building codes - Proficiency in design software (e.g., AutoCAD, Revit) |
Pros and Cons of Sustainability Jobs
| Job Title | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Ecologist |
- Hands-on work in nature - Directly contribute to ecosystem conservation - Opportunities for research and fieldwork |
- Physically demanding fieldwork - Limited funding for projects - Potential for emotional strain from witnessing environmental damage |
| Sustainability Manager |
- High demand in corporate sectors - Opportunities to lead impactful projects - Competitive salary |
- High pressure to meet sustainability goals - Requires balancing profit and environmental impact - Can involve navigating bureaucracy |
| Sustainability Consultant |
- Diverse projects across industries - Opportunity to work with multiple clients - High earning potential |
- Travel and long hours may be required - Competitive and fast-paced environment - Requires constant learning to stay updated |
| Renewable Energy Specialist |
- Work with cutting-edge technologies - High job growth potential - Directly reduce carbon emissions |
- Requires technical expertise - Dependent on project funding and location - Can involve fieldwork in remote areas |
| Green Architect |
- Combine creativity with sustainability - Growing demand for eco-friendly buildings - Long-term impact on urban spaces |
- Expensive materials may limit projects - Balancing client desires with sustainability goals - Requires specialized knowledge and certifications |
👉 Overall, sustainability jobs are a way for people to feel good about their daily work while also helping to fight against the negative consequences caused by climate change.
What are the pros and cons of sustainability jobs?
There are multiple benefits to working sustainability jobs, such as potential longevity for the respective role and feeling good about the work that’s done to help save the planet – but may require more time and money to effectively pursue and secure a sustainability job.
Pros of sustainability jobs
- Job Satisfaction – People who engage in sustainability jobs are more likely to feel satisfied with their careers, especially since it’s scientifically proven that helping others can boost happiness levels – which sustainability jobs often directly or indirectly achieve as a result of helping wildlife or avoiding social injustices.
- Richer Lifestyle – Traditional corporate jobs, while some companies offer remote positions allowing for more freedom, are often more restrictive than sustainability jobs – as sustainability is a global issue that can allow for exciting travel opportunities and the ability to work across multiple industries.
💡 As a whole, sustainability jobs may be the right fit for you if you easily get bored with your surroundings and seek challenges to stay stimulated at work.
- Potential Job Security – As the effects of climate change continue to grow more prevalent across the globe, it is probable that governments and businesses alike will continue to create more sustainability jobs – making this field relevant and stable for those seeking job security.
- Expression of Creativity – More traditional roles such as social media and marketing today may require you to create content that aligns with the current algorithm – whereas developing environmental solutions requires exceptional inventiveness and anything but the ordinary. This creativity can include helping to design sustainable communities or even new, renewable sources of energy.
Cons of sustainability jobs
- Time & Effort – Working in sustainability means investing your time and money into pursuing higher education in addition to enrolling in relative sustainability courses to become further qualified for your desired role. Furthermore, previous work experience in sustainability is often recommended – meaning that it could be a slower climb “up the corporate ladder” and develop your career in sustainability since the field is still relatively new.
- Emotional Burnout – While someone with a sustainability job, such as a veterinarian working to save homeless animals and protecting them from the effects of climate change, may feel deeply fulfilled by their work – it may also frustrate them after extended periods of time – especially in moments where there is no solution to the current issue. This can cause those who work sustainability to feel emotionally drained, and make it difficult to separate their professional lives from their personal lives.
- Lack of Immediate or Corporate Validation – Oftentimes, when we see someone with a resume who went to Harvard or worked for a big name company such as Apple or Maybelline – we are able to validate their education and work experience without a second thought. However, newer and smaller start-ups with sustainability jobs may not offer the same globally recognized experience for those seeking new opportunities to expand their career.
👉 Ultimately, sustainability jobs can be rewarding for those who are passionate about climate change – but as with any job, there are potential downsides, such as complex and stressful work projects and being unable to separate your work from your personal life.
5 examples of sustainability jobs
There are several types of sustainability jobs, such as working as an ecologist, an urban planner, or a sustainability consultant or manager.
“ It is important when seeking sustainability jobs to search for a role that is personally satisfying, as these roles often require innovative solutions that demand unique thought processes and intrinsic motivation. ”
Here are 5 sustainability jobs you may have not thought of that might interest you:
Sustainability Manager
As a more traditional sustainability job, these types of managers develop and employ strategies for businesses to reduce their environmental impact, such as by helping to improve energy efficiency, reduce water usage, and comply with regulations.
This sustainability job is best suited for those who enjoy managing big projects, prioritize organization, and value compliance.
💡 Think in terms of project management, but taking it one step further – as your projects will now be oriented towards sustainable solutions.
Green Architecture & Design
On the more creative side of sustainability jobs is a green designer or architect, who will seek to re-design rooms, homes, and buildings to be more energy efficient.
“ Remember, green design can extend to products also – such as wanting to develop a zero-waste beauty brand or a more energy efficient laptop. Therefore, green design is a sustainability job that can interest many people across various industries. ”
Green architecture involves creating environmentally friendly buildings while using sustainable materials to reduce energy consumption and wasting finite resources.
As there is a growing demand for green buildings that qualify under LEED and WELL certifications, a green architecture could have a fruitful future while still enjoying a diverse project portfolio and helping to conserve resources.
👉 This is a sustainability job most suitable for people with a good eye for detail and who enjoy a creative challenge, as developing eco-friendly products and buildings requires out-of-the-box thinking.
Environmental Consultant
An environmental consultant guides businesses or even government bodies on how to comply with environmental regulations, control their contribution to pollution, and develop overall sustainable operations.
In the same vein of those who enjoy teaching, becoming an environmental consultant might be right for you if you find joy in guiding others to long-term and practical lessons and solutions.
Furthermore, a sustainability job as an environmental consultant would allow for a dynamic work environment – often as a mix of office work and traveling to different places to help solve environmental challenges on site.
Sustainable Fashion Design
Working in the world of fashion can be a challenge, but the industry is in need of a makeover to become more sustainable and viable long-term – meaning that it needs new people passionate about sustainability in fashion.
Working in sustainable fashion design, while becoming a sustainable fashion designer is often most desirable – can be optimal no matter how small the position. For instance, a sustainable stylist could encourage big-name celebrities to choose more eco-friendly pieces and influence thousands of fans – while fashion designers and interns can help to choose more sustainable materials for garments and maximize designs for durability to avoid excess waste.
💡 In addition to this, if you want to work in sustainability, enjoy fashion, and have the funds – you could consider opening a thrift store or a sustainable clothing store to offset the carbon impact of fast fashion.
Ultimately, with the rise of consumerism now being viewed as a problem for climate change, alongside many brands such as Patagonia already changing their business models to account for a more sustainable industry – working in sustainable fashion could allow people passionate for this type of art to make a difference.
Environmental Journalist & Photographer
With a median pay of around $40,000 USD every year, projected job growth of 17% by 2030, and no post-graduate degree required – becoming an environmental photo journalist is bound to be an intriguing sustainability job for many.
This sustainability job involves photojournalists to document the harsh realities of climate change – such as by traveling onsite after a wildfire or hurricane to capture how both the planet and human lives are hurting.
💡 However, while exciting, it is important to note that constantly bearing witness to the wake of a natural disaster could spur your own eco-anxiety and be a mentally challenging job to withstand.
“ “I was a news photographer for many years and I loved that. But I ultimately started to feel like it wasn’t the most natural fit for my temperament.” – Pete Muller, speaking on his two years as an environmental photojournalist and how it started to take a toll on his mental health. ”
Overall, there are a wide variety of sustainability jobs to choose from – many of them more creative and fulfilling than you might think. This allows all of us to discover sustainability jobs that could align with our individual career goals while still helping the planet.
What About Greenly?
If reading this article about sustainability jobs you may like has made you interested in reducing your carbon emissions to further fight against climate change – Greenly can help you!
It can be overwhelming to figure out how to integrate sustainability into your employee’s lives, but don’t worry – Greenly is here to help. Click here to schedule a demo to see how Greenly can help you find ways to kick-start your sustainability and make sure your employees feel included in your efforts to reduce emissions.
Greenly can help you make an environmental change for the better, starting with a carbon footprint assessment to know how much carbon emissions your company produces.
More articles
View all
California Climate Package: SB 219 & SB 252
11 min
Level
What is the California Climate Accountability Package, and how do SB 253 and SB 261 (SB 219), and SB 252 help the state work towards their environmental goals?
5 concrete solutions to help industrial companies reduce their emissions
3 min
Level
Here are five concrete actions industrial companies can adopt to reduce emissions.
Checklist: The 7 Steps to Start Your CSRD Compliance
2 min
Level
The CSRD imposes new requirements for non-financial reporting. Here’s a straightforward guide to start your compliance journey, without any unnecessary jargon:
Share
Subscribe to the newsletter