Top 5 Careers to Pursue on Sustainability

It is no longer unusual for businesses and other organizations to implement sustainability measures in their operations. They have noticed that consumers are growing in their awareness of the best possible community values, and they want to conform to these values to keep those consumers. As a result of this new awareness, more and more students are pursuing college degrees in sustainability-related disciplines. This gradual shift to a greener economy could create 24 million new jobs globally by 2030 if the right policies are put in place, according to the International Labour Organization (ILO).

Sustainability is still a very new discipline that has only recently been incorporated into college curricula. This makes especially intriguing for students who want to feel like they’re part of the movement that’s making a difference in the world. And if you want to be on the same team, we have put together a list of the top 5 green careers to pursue in the field of sustainability.

Sustainable Management

We can pretty much say that we can apply sustainable management at any point in our lives. We can do this by putting together the basics of doing business in conformity with the principles of sustainability. What does sustainability stand for? It stands for the planet and the welfare of its people. Hence, we can think about what is the best way to profit by keeping the planet and the people in mind and managing our organizations on the basis of what’s best for them.

Students who are pursuing careers in sustainable management are learning about business management that is sustainable in social, environmental, and economic terms. They learn how to become future ambassadors of change, gaining transferrable skills to foster business growth while taking into account the long term impact. Upon graduation, these futuristic thinkers will be responsible for many aspects of any business organization, such as:

• Harmonizing their actions with sustainable policies and environmental regulations;
• Proposing sustainable management and leadership initiatives;
• Building a practice of sustainable teamwork with other co-workers;
• Measuring, analyzing and reporting on the efficiency of their actions for the short and long term;

Environmental Science

The career of an environmental scientist is thrilling but also difficult. These individuals are always part of any attempt to find solutions for existing environmental problems, using their knowledge and data from physical and biological science. The solutions they come up with are various, starting with dealing with the hazards that threaten the environment, cause pollution, and endanger human health. As completely eliminating these problems is sometimes impossible, they at least try to reduce their harmful impact.

According to Environmental Science, environmental scientists usually have to conduct research to identify, control, or eliminate sources of pollutants or hazards affecting the environment or posing threats to public health. They explain that this research consists of determining data collection methods, collecting and analyzing air, water, and soil samples, analyzing environmental data gathered by others, and analyzing the collected data to establish correlations with human activity.

If you’re a student, you need to know that you can indeed get a job in the field of sustainability with a bachelor’s degree; although for more prestigious positions, you will need to aim for higher academic levels.

Environmental Architecture

Also known as sustainable architecture, sustainable design, or sustainable environmental design, a career in this field is one of the fastest-growing sectors. Students who pursue this career become green architects, landscape designers, or urban planners. Although these three professions are distinguishable, they rely on the same objective: they’re concerned with planning and designing eco-friendly outdoor spaces.

A green architect will certainly strive to make use of the most ecologically friendly materials to accompany his home designs, or designs for corporate buildings. The sustainable landscape designer will analyze the landscape to minimize all negative environmental impacts. Instead of a lawn, they will propose using shrub plantings or even wildflowers. Urban planners, on the other hand, with their knowledge of ecosystems, will try to create better living standards in urban environments. Students will not go wrong when choosing a career in this field, as the environment is a worldwide concern at the moment and will be in the future.

Environmental Health Sciences

The World Health Organization defines environmental health as a field that addresses all physical, chemical, and biological factors external to a person, and all the related factors impacting behaviors. People involved in environmental health sciences have an important role in keeping those factors in balance, preventing them from causing diseases or public health problems. Students who pursue a degree at any level in environmental health science will eventually go through courses such as environmental microbiology, toxicology, chemistry, risk assessment, or applied ecology.

Certainly, professionals in environmental health sciences are currently among the most appreciated people on earth. Thanks to environmental epidemiologists, we are learning how to handle the current pandemic. Except that although environmental epidemiologists investigate disease outbreaks and exposures to environmental hazards, they also educate the public on how to avoid the effects of epidemics. And they advocate government regulations and policies with the purpose of protecting the public.

Environmental Law

Generally, environmental law sets the laws, rules, and procedures through which it is specified how humans should interact with the environment. Although it is a relatively new field of studies, many students are considering the law-environment combo as their ultimate career option.

The process of becoming an environmental lawyer includes the traditional discipline of getting a law degree and passing the bar exam. There are no specific requirements for becoming an environmental lawyer; however, pursuing a specialization or certification program in environmental law is highly recommended.

As a result, you can become either a governmental lawyer, non-profit, or private. Either way, you will add more sustainable values to the way we use resources from our planet by developing policies and legislation that benefit the environment.

To see the real-life examples, check out the top 5 organizations incorporating sustainability in their culture.

Photos: Shutterstock

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