5 Jobs That Help Fight Climate Change

Climate change is Earth’s long-term temperature and weather pattern shifts, which human activity is believed to accelerate. The result? Increasingly regular extreme weather events and rising sea levels.

If you're concerned about climate change and its effect on the planet, consider a related career in the field. According to leading scientists, many of Earth's problems, like flooding, drought, and wildfires, are directly related to climate change. Hence, people in this line of work are more valuable than ever. 

Some examples of climate change jobs include climate scientist, environmental engineer, environmental lawyer, renewable energy engineer, and sustainability and climate change consultant.

Learn more about climate change jobs below to help you decide if this is your career path.

5 climate change jobs  

Whether you enjoy sitting at a desk or working outdoors, you can find jobs across many fields, including science, engineering, business, and law, all of which relate to protecting our environment. While some professionals in these fields use complex formulas to predict climate change, others find solutions to environmental or climate problems by making new laws. For more information, here are five climate change careers to consider. 

1. Climate scientist 

Average annual UK salary: £36,298 [1]

Climate scientists study aspects of Earth's climate, such as temperature, sunlight, and precipitation. They use complex mathematical formulas and computer models to help predict climate change’s effects on the ocean, the food supply, regional weather patterns, and more. 

To become a climate scientist in the UK, you could pursue a bachelor’s degree (to qualify, you will need two or three A levels, or equivalent, including maths and a science subject). 

For the degree, consider subjects such as environmental science or ecology, geography, earth sciences, geology, maths and statistics, oceanography or marine science, or computer science. 

For an educational track, get an entry-level job that allows you to work simultaneously on a master's degree. Some companies and organisations might even help pay for your tuition to entice you to stay at the job. 

While some climate scientists work in an office or a lab, others may spend most of their time in the field.

2. Environmental engineer 

Average annual salary: £34,279 [2]

Environmental engineers identify environmental problems and create plans to fix them using biology, chemistry, engineering, and soil science knowledge. They create systems and structures such as sewers, aqueducts, sustainable buildings, and wind turbines. 

To be an environmental engineer, consider pursuing a bachelor's degree in environmental engineering, civil engineering, or a related field. Join a Sandwich Degree, where you can alternate periods of academic study with full-time work. As an environmental engineer, you might work in an office or construction setting, taking samples or surveying progress. 

3. Environmental lawyer 

Average annual UK salary: £60,126 [3]

Environmental lawyers represent individuals, companies, or organisations in legal issues related to the environment, such as climate change, land use, or water rights. 

As an environmental lawyer, you could work for local governmental agencies, nonprofit groups, or corporations. Job duties might include:

• Working on court cases

• Providing testimony in court

• Lobbying for pro-environmental legislation

• Consulting on sustainable business practices

• Counselling clients on environmental regulations and laws

To work as an environmental law solicitor, you can take the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) or study the Legal Practice Course (LPC). 

If you choose the SQE route, you’ll also need to complete two years of Qualifying Work Experience (QWE). Alternatively, to become a barrister, you will need to complete an undergraduate law degree or a conversion course if you’re a non-law graduate. Then, finish the Bar Practice Course (BPC) and secure pupillage. For specialised knowledge, consider studying an LLM in Environmental Law or International Energy Law.

Most environmental lawyers work in an office, but some travel to meet with clients or visit work-related sites. 

4. Renewable energy engineer 

Average annual UK salary: £36,753 [4]

Renewable energy engineers develop ways to obtain energy from renewable sources like wind, sun, and water and reduce the use of finite energy sources like oil. These engineers might be advisors, consultants, designers, or builders. Some job duties might include report preparation, energy system inspections, project management, and data analysis.

 To become a renewable energy engineer, consider starting an apprenticeship or pursuing a bachelor's degree in environmental engineering or a related field, like electrical or mechanical engineering. If you decide on this career path, you might consider an apprenticeship or volunteer position with a renewable energy nonprofit to get hands-on work experience and professional connections. 

5. Sustainability and climate change (S&CC) consultant 

Average annual UK salary: £49,615 [5]

Sustainability and climate change (S&CC) consultants help companies and organisations become more socially and environmentally responsible. They offer advice on sustainable building practices and environmentally friendly materials. They also show clients how to decrease energy consumption and waste by implementing tools to measure and monitor corresponding data. 

While no strict educational requirements exist to become an S&CC consultant sustainability, pursuing a degree can be beneficial. Consider studying business sustainability, sustainable energy, or sustainable finance. Related subjects like geoscience, engineering, biology, or chemistry offer valuable transferable skills and knowledge.

Although a master’s degree isn’t mandatory for becoming a sustainability consultant, an employer may expect one. Pursuing a postgraduate degree can also help you specialise in a specific area. Relevant postgraduate degrees include sustainable development or sustainability, enterprise, and environmental studies.

As an S&CC consultant, you'll likely work in an office, but you may need to travel to meet with clients and conduct site inspections. 

Job growth for climate change careers

It's projected that jobs for climate scientists, environmental engineers, and similar specialists will continue to increase. According to industry data for 2022, the number of green jobs has increased by 8.4 percent compared to the Office for National Statistics’ 2021 estimate of 589,600 full-time equivalents [6].

Some of the highest job growth in climate change will be installing and repairing devices like solar panels and wind turbines. 

Top skills for climate change professionals 

Climate change isn't just an environmental problem but also a cultural, economic, social, political, and scientific one. Therefore, top skills and duties for climate change professionals may include:

• Research and innovation: Improve and research the efficiency of energy sources like sun and wind technologies.

• Climate change finance: Apply and distribute funds that support climate-change companies and nonprofit organisations.

• Data analysis: Interpret data that involves temperature, humidity, precipitation, wind, wind chill, and heat index.

• Communication skills: Explain complex climate issues in easy-to-understand ways.

Climate change certifications 

Certifications offer climate change professionals a way to get more training and stand out from their peers. Green business certifications are given to firms with principles, policies, and practices that help improve climate change. 

Here are a few offered from the Green Business Certification, Inc. (GBCI):

• Sustainability Excellence Associate (SEA): For new professionals

• Sustainability Excellence Professional (SEP): For more advanced professionals

These certifications focus on topics like:

• Understanding and communicating sustainability information to various audiences

• Identifying current issues involving sustainability and the tools and techniques to deal with them

• Using 'systems thinking' in developing sustainability solutions and assessing risks and opportunities

• Planning and implementing sustainable practices and procedures and following up with an evaluation

More certifications that you might get include:

• Certified Candidate Pilot Programme from the Association of Climate Change Officers (ACCO) for new or transitioning professionals

• Certified Climate Change Professional from ACCO for more advanced professionals

• Certified Energy Manager from the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE)

• Business Energy Professional from AEE

• Sustainable and Climate Risk (SCR) Certificate from the Global Association of Risk Professionals (GARP)

• City Climate Planner (CCP) Certificate Programme from World Bank 

Next steps

A climate change career is not only a huge benefit to the planet, it could also be good for your professional future. You can find a range of careers relating to climate change that suit your skills and interests.

To see if you might be interested in this career path, start by checking out climate change courses such as From Climate Science to Action and Act on Climate: Steps to Individual Community. These courses are all offered by world-class companies and universities and are available on Coursera.