I want to prevent climate change
Do you want a job involved in protecting the planet?
Green Jobs are those involved in producing goods or services that help to protect the environment and look after our natural resources - many of these roles are directly involved in working to prevent climate change.
'The Government's commitment to achieving net zero emissions by 2050 will mean investment, and change, across the economy: from the decarbonisation of buildings and transport, to shifts in diet, aviation and industry.' Net Zero Jobs, Resolution Foundation
The UK government has set an ambition to support 2 million green jobs by 2030.
Selection of jobs using the value of I want to prevent climate change
- Biotechnologist
- Civil engineer
- Climate scientist
- Corporate responsibility and sustainability practitioner
- Data analyst-statistician
- Design and development engineer
- Environmental consultant
- Geoscientist
- Hydrologist
- Meteorologist
- MP
- Oceanographer
- Renewable energy engineer
- Robotics engineer
- Transport planner
- Wind turbine technician
Explore more green jobs...
Use our Green Jobs search to find a range of job profiles for roles that are involved in producing good or services that help to protect the environment and look after out natural resources.
You may also want to explore jobs in following sectors:
Job opportunities to prevent climate change
Campaigning for change.
To get to net zero we will need bold people who are committed to making change happen. People who understand the importance of sustainability, can communicate their vision, bring people on board and create policies that can help people change their behaviour. We will also need people who can hold companies to account and take tough and maybe unpopular decisions.
Examples of jobs; MP, Prime Minister, civil servant, marketing campaign manager for Greenpeace or Friends of the Earth, broadcast journalist, content producer for film/ TV, environmental lawyer, local government officer, behaviour change psychologists etc.
Climate resilience
The UK weather is going to get warmer and wetter. We will need meteorologists especially if there is more likelihood of extreme weather conditions, and climate scientists who can analyse trends and patterns in our climate and advise the government. It is likely that more areas of the UK will be affected by flooding.
Examples of jobs related to preventing flooding, meteorologist, climate change scientist, hydrologist, environmental engineer, town planner, environmental management, civil engineer for flood management schemes, construction roles.
Renewable energy
We are already generating large amounts of electricity from off shore wind farms on the coast and there are plans for more. We also need to generate electricity from solar farms and from building more nuclear power stations. There will be opportunities to design, install and maintain these farms and power stations.
Examples of jobs; wind turbine engineer, environmental consultant, nuclear engineers, energy engineer, environmental engineer, mechanical engineer, electrical engineer.
Find out what motivated Rosie who liked biology to train as an environmental consultant in renewable energy, and why being a wind turbine engineer is similar to servicing a car! If you like organising things you might enjoy being a construction co-ordinator of wind turbines.
Making our homes more energy efficient
Today 80% of our homes are heated by gas and many are not well insulated. Friends of the the Earth explains the new ways we can heat and insulate our homes to save the planet.
Examples of jobs to retrofit houses to improve energy efficiency; heat pump installer, solar installer, hydrogen boiler engineer, energy engineer, insulation installer.
Food and waste changes
The Climate Change Committee says that by 2050 meat and dairy consumption could be down between 35-50% as we move towards a plant-based diet - so there is likely to be more investment in meat replacements such as plant based burgers and subsequent changes to current land use and farming. There will continue to be a move towards more biodegradable packaging and recyclable products with less food wastage.
Examples of jobs; food scientist, plant based food manufacture, biochemist, packaging designer, sustainability officer, agri-tech engineers.
Low carbon transport
By 2050 more forms of transport are likely to be electric, and there will be more space for cycle lanes in our towns and cities. There will be machines that capture carbon. People are likely to use trains for longer journeys and aeroplanes are likely to rely on biofuels and include a carbon offset tax.
Examples of jobs; urban transport planner, environmental engineer, architect, cycle coach and mechanic, carbon capture engineer.
Relevant courses to help protect the planet
- Global Sustainable Development - Warwick University - be the change you want to be! Use what you learn to make a difference in society - for example watch this film about reducing food waste in the local community.
- Civil and Environmental Engineering at Cardiff University - civil engineering with a focus on environmental issues such as waste management, building on contaminated land and water treatment.
- Sustainable Food Production and Land Use- an applied biology degree that considers how land-use practices can help to tackle today’s critical challenges of climate change, biodiversity and food security.
- Discover the realities of climate change as you explore its causes, consequences, and potential solutions with these online climate change courses with Futurelearn.
Green Apprenticeships
Get Informed about Climate Change
Read Friends of the Earth's 10 things you can do to help stop climate change
Listen to BBC Sounds - 39 ways to save the planet - positive and interesting!
Other Careerpilot tools you can use to find jobs and courses that might suit you:
Do the Job Quiz and see what sectors match what you want from work.
Do the Skills Profile to see what skills you have now and save them to talk about on applications
Search for courses and apprenticeships related to creative