Green jobs

Asmita Chitnis

Our civilisation is grappling with climate change, pollution, scarcity of non-renewable resources, depletion of natural resources, loss of biodiversity, urban sprawl and many such environmental issues. The need of the hour is to focus on efficiency, sustainability and renewability. The good news is that private organisations, government agencies, NGOs and independent environmental warriors from across the globe are joining hands to deal with these problems. This, in turn, is creating a significant demand for green jobs.

Professionals with expertise in energy and environment produce goods or offer services that are environment-friendly and conserve natural resources. Most economies of the world, including that of India, are taking initiatives to lower their carbon footprint and increase utilisation of renewable resources. So, global industries are seeking energy and environment professionals in huge numbers. According to a recent report, India’s shift to a greener economy has potential to add three million jobs by 2030. So, if you are planning to pursue a degree in energy and environment, you surely have a bright future ahead. Take a look at 10 career options that you can explore in this field:

Environmental Scientist

Environmental scientists conduct research and study about how increasing population puts pressure on the ecology and find solutions to those consequences. They make environmental policy recommendations to industries and guide them in reducing pollution and proper disposal of wastes.

Green Builder

Green builders provide consultancy in designing eco-friendly buildings in terms of landscape, energy, water, sewage and waste disposal. They are expected to liaison with architects, engineers and urban planners to create sustainable infrastructure.

Water Quality Scientist

Millions of people die every year due to water scarcity and water-borne diseases. Water quality scientists are responsible for analysing samples of raw water and treated water to determine the presence of toxins, microbes and other pollutants. If the water quality is sub-standard, then they take up work in association with the government and industries, to tackle the violations. 

Agriculture and Food Scientist

Agriculture and food scientists gather and analyse data and samples of soil, crops, fertilisers and feed to understand their impact on the environment. They educate farmers and other stakeholders of the agricultural community to adopt eco-friendly and sustainable farming practices to improve the quality and production of crops and maintenance of livestock.

Conservation Scientist and Forester

Conservation scientists and foresters are responsible for preserving forests and other wild lands. They undertake programmes related to soil conservation, prevention of forest fires, preservation of natural habitats, pest management and facilitation of public recreation.

Energy Broker

Just as real estate brokers work as intermediaries between builders and customers, energy brokers act as middlemen between energy producers and energy consumers. They help both institutional and residential consumers to reduce their energy bills by arranging service contracts from energy suppliers at competitive prices.

Urban Planner

Urbanisation is on a rapid rise owing to increasing population and migration of rural labour to cities. There is shortage of space and a stress on resources. The job of urban planners is to optimise the effectiveness of available land, infrastructure and other resources for sustainable urban development.

Sustainability Educationists

There is a need to sensitise children in schools, the future citizens of the country about the importance of environment conservation and sustainability. Also, since the careers in energy and environment are on the rise, colleges and universities need expert academicians to offer these courses. People with a background in these fields can thus get jobs as sustainability educationists.

Energy Auditor

In this technologically advancing world, the demand for energy is much more than the supply, whether for commercial or domestic purposes. Energy auditors work on evaluating the energy needs of industries, find and fix unwarranted outflow or leaks and suggest ways to use greener energy-efficient alternatives.

Renewable Energy Scientist

There is a dire urgency to find ways to tap into renewable energy sources such as sun, wind, tides, rain, waves and geo-thermal heat to reduce dependency on fossil fuels. Renewable energy scientists study these sources and design, develop and build relevant technologies. This is a very good field for students with an engineering background interested in the domain.

— The writer is Director Symbiosis Institute of International Business (SIIB)