All hands on deck: The jobs to take up to save the planet

In early 2024, a World Economic Forum report revealed that the climate crisis could result in an additional 14.5 million deaths, US$12.5 trillion in economic losses, and US$1.1 trillion in extra costs to healthcare systems by 2050.

It’s a grim forecast, and countries and their leaders are doing what they can to tackle the problem. 

Former US President Barack Obama developed “The Clean Power Plan” to combat climate change alongside several world leaders such as Bill Gates, President Xi of China, Prime Minister Modi of India, and the leaders of island nations, including Seychelles and the Marshall Islands.

New Zealand, the UK, Nepal, and Germany are also among the many countries that have set up policies, acts, and laws to fight climate change.

However, considering all else that is happening in the world, is fighting climate change now truly necessary?

It is, and here’s why.

4 reasons why you need to make a change now

1. Changes in the environment

Melting glaciers and ice sheets, rising sea levels, intense droughts, and warm oceans result from climate change.

This has led to the destruction of habitats for animals and even humans.  Animals such as orangutans, an endangered species, are threatened by deforestation, primarily due to deforestation, to create space for palm oil plantations. It’s to a point where animals would wander into human settlements to look for food, causing conflicts that may endanger humans and animals.

Greenpeace reported that in Australia, over 100 million animals, such as koala bears, flying foxes, and brushtail possum joeys, were killed, injured, or displaced due to deforestation.

2. Extinction of animals

When habitats change, animals lose their homes and food sources, leading to a decrease in the species and possibly extinction. 

The Formosan clouded leopard, only found in Taiwan, went extinct due to the loss of its lowland forests, which forced them to find refuge in higher elevations; however, the habitat change drove them to extinction. Another example is the Spix’s Macaw, famously known as the character in the 2011 animated film “Rio,” which has now been declared extinct in the wild. 

The world also relies on a food chain; if one is removed from the food chain, it will lead to a chain reaction of many losing their prey.

3. Loss of rainforests

The world has lost a total of 37,000 square kilometres of rainforests in 2023 because of man-made forest fires or deforestation, — a total of 10 football pitches per minute, according to Rainforest Foundation Norway. This has led to biodiversity loss, flooding, and increased greenhouse gases.

The loss of rainforests has contributed to over 861 gigatons of carbon (11%) of the total greenhouse gas emissions yearly — nearly as much as all of the world’s vehicles combined.

4. Food and water scarcity

26% of the world’s population lacks safe drinking water, and climate change will worsen the number.  This is because it’ll affect rainfall patterns, possibly increasing drought or flooding and negatively affecting crop production, food security, and incomes.

Grenada, an island in the Caribbean, was recently affected by Hurricane Beryl in the past 14 years, and its government has officially declared a water crisis.  Nearly 100% of the country’s crops have been affected, leading to extreme food scarcity, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

How climate change is impacting everyday jobs

By 2030, there’s a possibility of losing up to 3.8% of total working hours worldwide due to climate-induced heat stress, reports the International Labour Organisation (ILO). That’s equivalent to US$2,400 billion in economic losses.

Workers from all walks of life are impacted: construction, emergency responders, farmers, office workers, and more.

The question now is, how does it impact jobs?

The answer is that the increase in heat caused by climate change creates an environment that produces poor air quality and manifests disease-carrying pests, floods, and wildfires.

Farmers will lose their income when they aren’t able to produce crops; firemen will put their lives at a higher risk when fighting wildfires; and regular workers may be infected by infections or diseases while on their way to work.

But there’s a way to fight this: jobs in climate change.

10 jobs in climate change you can consider to save the world

Climate finance specialist

Average salary: US$116,108 per year

Education requirements: Finance, environmental economics, environmental sciences, environmental engineering, public administration, or related fields.

Climate finance specialists analyse and evaluate funding opportunities, develop financial strategies, and create investment plans aligning with their organisation’s climate goals.

You’ll be able to conduct risk assessments for proposed climate finance projects, identify potential financial and environmental risks, and implement climate finance products.

This is one of the few jobs in climate change that will require a master’s degree and five to 10 years of work experience in climate or sustainable energy finance at an international level.

Consultant

Average salary: US$56,151 per year 

Education requirements: Environmental science, ecology, geology, environmental engineering, conservation, or related fields.

An environmental consultant is one of the few critical jobs in climate change, and it involves working with companies or corporate organisations to manage and provide a more straightforward path for corporate decision-making in sustainability initiatives. 

You’ll combine technical skills and scientific knowledge to assess environmental situations and help companies determine how to balance and reduce environmental impacts while remaining profitable and efficient.

For this profession, you can consider obtaining professional qualifications such as the Foundation Certificate in Environmental Management and Environmental Sustainability Skills for the Workforce from the Insititute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA).

Data analyst

Average salary: US$82,640 per year 

Education requirements: Environmental science, sustainability, data analytics, or a related field.

If you want to crunch numbers while saving the planet, you can do both as an environmental data analyst. 

An environmental data analyst uses statistical and computational methods to analyse large datasets on climate change, air and water quality, geology, and waste management. Through the insights of the datasets, the analysis can help influence decision-making in any organisation.

Beyond corporate organisations, your data can be used to create an overall picture of pollution, climate change, public health, and more.

To excel as an environmental data analyst, you must be proficient in spreadsheets, SQL, programming languages, visualisation tools, digital cartography, and interpreting and elaboration maps.

Ecologist

Average salary: US$64,631 per year

Education requirements: Ecology, biology, botany, environmental science, earth science, or a related field.

As an ecologist, you’ll also analyse data on the organisms, research the impact of human activities on the environment, manage wildlife conservation areas, and help manage projects that promote conservation and sustainability.

You’ll study and work on the relationship between plants, animals, and their environment to minimise environmental damage and conserve species in their natural habitats.

In this profession, you can work for private businesses, research centres, natural history museums, non-profit organisations, and government agencies. Titles may differ between organisations, so you might be called a naturalist, wildlife specialist, or consultant.

Environmental engineer or technician

Average salary: US$91,191 per salary

Education requirements: Engineering (environmental, civil, chemical) or a related field.

Using scientific and engineering principles to improve the environment and protect human health is part of your job as an environment engineer or technician. You’ll engage in practical and hands-on work, such as designing systems, managing projects, conducting quality-control checks, and overseeing operations.

On the other hand, you’ll conduct fieldwork to analyse data and develop engineering solutions to solve environmental issues.

Examples of projects you may work on as an environmental engineer are water supply and treatment, air pollution management, hazardous waste management, or wastewater treatment.

Environmental lawyer

Average salary: US$132,377 per year

Education requirements: Political science, law, public policy, environmental studies, or a related field.

Environmental lawyers are professionals who specialise in environmental law and represent clients in legal issues such as clean technology, wildlife, logging, toxic waste, water pollution, and environmental issues.

Advising clients on the possible consequences of their activities on the environment is also part of the job scope.

As an environmental lawyer, you’ll work for the government or the private sector if you want to take your career internationally. Companies like Baker Botts, Norton Rose Fulbright, Beveridge and Diamon PC, and the Centre for International Law can help you do that.

Environmental scientist

Average salary: US$84,123 per year

Education requirements:  Environmental science, biology, geosciences, environmental engineering, or a related field.

Being an environmental scientist is one of the many jobs in climate change that uses scientific analysis to identify and support existing or potential environmental issues. With the analysis, you’ll also develop solutions to reduce or eliminate the problems and find ways to protect the environment.

You can specialise in toxic waste cleanup, air pollution, wildlife preservation, land conservation, soil erosion, mining reclamation, or any related field. 

But regardless of the specialisation, your responsibilities include supervising laboratory staff, managing large-scale environmental projects, and developing conservation programmes.

Renewable energy engineer

Average salary: US$110,000 per year

Education requirements: Engineering (environmental, electrical, chemical, mechanical) or earth sciences.

Renewable energy engineers work on creating, developing, and improving energy production through natural resources such as wind, hydro, solar, or marine power that will result in cleaner ways to supply energy.

You’ll ensure installation processes comply with environmental laws, monitor energy consumption, develop new renewable energy for specific projects, write reports, and conduct site inspections.

To excel as a renewable energy engineer, you must be good at math, science, data analytic skills, computer-aided design, and project management.

Urban planner

Average salary: US$75,033 per year

Education requirements: architecture, civil engineering, economics, political science, or geography.

Think of the game “Cities: Skylines.” Urban planners are professionals who direct the development of cities and towns. 

You are responsible for creating and enforcing zoning regulations, ensuring proper land use, and regulating commercial, residential, industrial, and recreational development. 

Other than figuring out layouts of buildings, mapping out parking spaces, water supplies, transportation, and human demands is also a part of your job scope.

Wildlife conservationist

Average salary: US$64,945 per year

Education requirements: Wildlife management, ecology, biology, botany, zoology, or related field.

Wildlife conservationist is one of the few climate change opportunities that work closely with animals in their natural habitat. 

You’ll be researching, planning, and advising on projects to protect species that are facing extinction due to the changes or destruction of their habitats due to human activities. In addition to protecting animals, working with businesses to promote sustainability is a part of your job.

As a wildlife conservationist, you can also explore careers such as conservation scientist, zoologist, or park ranger.