I want to prevent climate change

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Check out more than 800 other job profiles, the above list is just a selection of jobs where preventing climate change will be valued, there will be loads more!

These job sectors might be good places to start if you want to prevent climate change but there are jobs in nearly all job sectors which will be working towards protecting the earth against climate change, click through to the job profiles to find out the details.

New energy

Recycling

Water, gas, oil, etc.

Maths

Science

STEM

Job opportunities to prevent climate change

Do you want a job fixing the planet?

The United Nations say that we must act now to prevent climate change and is having a meeting of 190 countries in Glasgow, this November at COP26 to discuss what can be done.

The government has outlined how the UK might reduce our carbon emissions to get to net zero by 2050. 

Getting to net zero is expected to create 2 million new jobs in the UK over the next few years. So, if you want to help fix the planet and do a career that is interesting and in demand, where the job opportunities?

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.

Managing Weather Changes

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.

Increasing our 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.

Heating our Homes

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 replace gas engineers; heat pump installer, hydrogen boiler engineer, energy engineer, insulation installer. 

Food and Waste Changes

The Climate Change Committee says that by 2050 meat and dairy consumption will be down between 35 and 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. There will be biodegradable packaging and more recyclable products. 

Examples of jobs; food scientist, plant based food manufacture, biochemist, packaging designer.

Transport Changes

By 2050 all 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.

Changes to land use

We will need to plant more forests, so there will be fewer open fields. With a move away from eating meat, there will be less fields for animal grazing and these may be shared it with solar panels. 

Examples jobs; agronomist, ecologist, hydrologist.

'Sustainability' is the buzzword for new green jobs.

Sustainability means meeting the needs of the population now, without compromising the resources for future generations. 

Examples of jobs; You will see 'sustainability' in job titles in everything from; environmental economists, to local authority sustainable travel co-ordinator, and for every part of the economy. from fashion to building, engineering and food manufacture. It is a relatively new area and there is a lot of demand for people with the knowledge and skills to draw up sustainability plans for net zero. Look for degrees that include sustainability in the content or the title.

Have you heard of social enterprises? There are over 100,000 different ones from Tom's Shoes to The Big Issue. Like traditional businesses they aim to make a profit but it’s what they do with their profits that sets them apart – reinvesting or donating them to create positive social change.

Quite a lot of social enterprises are set up by people committed to preventing climate change. Find out more here.

Relevant degrees to help fix 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.
• Climate Change at Greenwich University -Join the climate response by studying a degree that gives you the knowledge and skills you need for a career working to combat the climate emergency.
• Renewable Energy at Exeter University - Learn from experts in energy policy, marine renewables, bio-fuels, electrical power and networks, wind, photo-voltaic and thermal technologies.
• 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.
• University of Bristol has a sustainability programme that runs across all of their subjects including humanities and social sciences. 
• City College Plymouth has specific modules on sustainability within their Construction courses.

Green Apprenticeships

Get Informed about Climate Change

COP26 explained, discusses the issues and also sets out what the UK government's plans are for reducing emissions. Follow @cop26 on Twitter and Instagram to stay up to date. Be prepared for government announcements about how the UK is going to get to net zero and green jobs in the run up to the conference.

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!

Check out Adam Vaughan's blog a journalist for the New Scientist.

Animation explaining how we can rethinking throwing things away to create a circular economy.

Free Climate Change Courses

Discover the realities of climate change as you explore its causes, consequences, and potential solutions with these online climate change courses with Futurelearn.

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