The green gap is expanding: here’s how to get a career in sustainability

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Many of us change jobs every few years, although far fewer change careers entirely or switch sectors. While many skills are transferable across industries, the drive towards a sustainable world economy has created a new niche – green jobs – where the demand is outpacing the production of green talent. 

The green economy cannot happen without closing the sustainability skills gap, and there’s every reason to believe you can be a part of the conversation.

Green jobs in growth

Globally, the number of green jobs has grown by 8% per year in the past five years, with a European Investment Bank (EIB) poll of more than 12,500 businesses and 685 authorities finding that investment in green technology in the EU has been slower than the US because of a lack of workers with the skills required to fill them. 

Think that excludes you? Well, think again.

More than 80% of companies and 60% of local authorities polled by the EIB, the world’s largest multilateral bank by assets, may have identified the highest green skills shortages in the engineering and digital sectors, but the United Nations Environment Programme highlights that the green economy will require talents across all areas of business. 

The World Economic Forum predicts the global green economy will create more than 10.3 million new jobs by 2030, meaning that green career opportunities are only likely to increase. A new generation of knowledge and skills are required, but you may be further ahead in the race than you think.

A 2022 US report suggests an estimated 875,000 Americans already work in green jobs across the environment, sustainability, renewable energy, conservation and recycling. Green jobs in renewable energy are the fastest-growing (natural sciences managers and environmental engineers represented the highest job vacancies in May 2022). 

And while in-demand skills include sustainable development, environmental remediation and environmental policy, the majority of green skills are being used in jobs that aren’t traditionally thought of as green. 

2022 Microsoft Research outlines the role of multidisciplinarians in the drive to close the sustainability skills gap. 

“Ultimately, it’s important to recognise that the sustainability transformation will need people who can combine specialised sustainability knowledge and skills with varying degrees of other multidisciplinary skill sets,” writes Brad Smith Vice Chair and President of Microsoft. 

“These will need to combine knowledge from STEM and other fields in the liberal arts and encompass skills that span across business, the use of data, and digital technology.”

Seizing green opportunities

Accelerate your career potential and expand your credentials by seizing green opportunities. Avail of in-house sustainability education or training at your current job. Undertake a part-time or online course that brings added green value to your skillset. 

A new green career doesn’t necessarily mean leaving your current employer either. Look out for the creation of new green roles within the organisation or put yourself forward as part of the conversation around sustainability issues.

In a U.S. survey more than two-thirds of sustainability leaders were hired internally to fill their jobs with 60% of people currently on sustainability teams reporting that they weren’t originally hired for their sustainability expertise. 

P&G, an early adopter of sustainability policy, appointed its first chief sustainability officer in 2011: Virginie Helias didn’t come from a science, sustainability or environmental background, the company’s pioneering CSA drawing on her leadership and change management experience to successfully execute the newly created role. 

Fast forward to 2020, and Fortune 500 companies hired more chief sustainability officers than in the previous three years combined. A 2022 study by Reuters shows the number of CSOs holding an executive level position increased to 28% in 2021 with a recent PwC study showing that global companies in 2020-21 appointed almost as many CSOs as in all prior eight years combined.

Silicon Canal’s Job Board lists a diverse selection of green careers spanning multiple sectors, from the traditional to tech. 

Sustainability roles open to applicants today…

Siemens AG, based in Munich, Germany, is currently seeking a Sustainability Disclosure Expert to manage strategic sustainability projects and develop sustainability strategy elements at corporate level. The successful candidate will, as part of a global team, closely liaise with the sustainability teams in the businesses and on corporate level to ensure that key decisions are made with latest sustainability market knowledge in mind. 

Other opportunities include a role with the investment banking arm of Crédit Agricole as a Climate Analyst and Sustainability Strategist in France, while international environmental organisation, Earthwatch Institute, is recruiting a Research Lead in Sustainable Agriculture in the Netherlands.

The 2023 European Green Deal commits the EU to becoming the first climate neutral continent by 2050. This new growth strategy for a green Europe requires a suitably equipped workforce, making this an optimum time to consider a move to a green career.

KPMG is hiring a Senior Consultant Sustainability Services based in Dusseldorf. The role will see you take over the project responsibility for consulting or auditing in topics such as the EU taxonomy for sustainable finance, climate or human rights. 

Among other key responsibilities you’ll drive the integration of sustainability into corporate governance systems and help shape processes for controlling and reporting non-financial issues. Get all the details here to apply today.

For thousands more green job opportunities, check out the Silicon Canals Job Board today

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