Green Career Paths

The UK is committed to pursuing a 2050 net zero emissions target – but can the workforce keep up? As world leaders gather for the COP29 summit, new LinkedIn data reveals that the UK leads the way in terms of demand for workers with green skills. As of July this year, 13% of job posts in the UK called for green skills – that compares to 6% globally. Between 2021-2024, demand for green talent in the UK grew by an average of 20% per year. In the past year alone, it surged by 46%. But, while the supply of green talent has also grown, it lags demand. LinkedIn data scientists say the global green talent pool must double by 2050 – at a bare minimum – to keep pace with projected demand. This means there’s never been a better time for UK workers to upskill or consider a career change to a greener role. LinkedIn places green skills in 12 categories, including pollution prevention, renewable energy generation and sustainability research. But it’s not just sustainability-focused sectors that need workers with green skills – traditionally polluting industries such as oil, gas and mining are key employers. Watch the video below for more insights and share your thoughts in the comments. What are you doing to develop your green skills? What career trends are you seeing in the sustainability space? #GreenerTogether Read the whole report here: https://lnkd.in/dJ9gdbXh ✍️ Jennifer Ryan 📊 Akash Kaura (LinkedIn Economic Graph)

Europe is striving for a 2050 net zero emissions target – but is the workforce ready? As the COP29 summit takes place, new LinkedIn data reveals that demand for green-skilled workers in Europe rose by an average of 5% annually from 2021 to 2024. Leading the way with the highest demand are the UK (13%), Ireland (12.4%), and Norway (11.6%). However, growth is not consistent across the continent. Finland (-43.8%), the Netherlands (-20.1%), Belgium (-18.6%), and Greece (-17.7%) have all seen a drop in demand for green talent over the past year. Despite an increase in the supply of green talent, it still trails behind demand. The global supply grew by 5.6% from 2023 to 2024, but LinkedIn data scientists indicate that the green talent pool must double – at a bare minimum – by 2050 to keep pace. If you're thinking about upskilling or transitioning to a greener career, there's never been a better time. LinkedIn identifies 12 categories of green skills, including pollution prevention, renewable energy generation and sustainability research. But it’s not just sustainability-focused sectors that need workers with green skills – traditionally polluting industries such as oil, gas and mining are key employers. Watch the video below for more insights and share your thoughts in the comments. What are you doing to develop your green skills? What career trends are you seeing in the sustainability space? #GreenerTogether Read the whole report here: https://lnkd.in/dJ9gdbXh ✍️ Jennifer Ryan 📊 Akash Kaura (LinkedIn Economic Graph)

My career advice for young professionals and fresh graduates interested in the sustainability industry. After two decades in sustainability, here's what I wish someone had told me when I started. 1. Build your career at the intersection of sustainability and another field. Want to stand out? Don't just be a "sustainability person." Be the finance person who understands carbon markets. The supply chain person who knows circular economy principles. The marketing strategist who can avoid greenwashing. 2. Your degree alone won't cut it. The most successful sustainability professionals I know are always learning. You will face new frameworks, new guidelines, new regulations, and new technologies, very frequently in your career. This means you need to continously learn new things and keep updated on the latest happenings in the sustainability industry. 3. Focus on implementation, not theory. Don't focus on coming up with the perfect strategy or initiative. Start small, fail fast, gather feedback, and adjust quickly. You need to show results to build credibility and trust with internal and external stakeholders. 4. Master the art of measuring impact. In a world drowning in ESG claims and sustainability reports, those who can rigorously measure and prove impact will rise to the top. Learn impact measurement, carbon accounting, and life cycle assessments. 5. Build a personal brand around communicating sustainability solutions and stories. Don't just solve environmental problems. Share your success stories. Document your solutions. Create content about insights, innovations and breakthroughs. The sustainability space needs more sharing of best practices. What's your career advice? Share them in the comments below.

Ready for a new career resource? I'm often asked by students for help making sense of #climate career paths. There's so much work to be done! What does a "climate job" look like? Who's hiring? In partnership with Project Drawdown, we've published a new ClimateCAP career roadmap. Start with the climate action you care about most--investing in solutions? reducing emissions directly? advancing climate policy?--and then take a look at our breakdown of possible career paths. We'd love feedback and suggestions for future iterations! This landscape is always changing.

𝗦𝗼, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗮 𝗷𝗼𝗯 𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆? 🌱 You’re not alone - and that’s the challenge The space is heating up (in all senses), so here’s what I recommend 👇 🎧 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 My go-to podcasts for climate & sustainability learning: → Outrage + Optimism → The Climate Question from the BBC → First Mile | Certified B Corp's Climate Heroes → Sustainability Uncovered by edie → Planet: Critical → Straight Talking Sustainability by Emma Burlow → The Sustainability Agenda by Fergal Byrne 🌍 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗱𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 Check out the companies in these networks: → Impact Hustlers (community + podcast) → Unreasonable Group → Tech Nation's Net Zero cohorts → The Chivas Venture 📬 𝗖𝗿𝗮𝗳𝘁 𝗮 𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗹 Getting hired at mission-driven orgs is competitive So you've got to make your email *personal* (no ChatGPT here!) → Why are you committing your life to this? → How does sustainability align with your personal brand and values? → How do you live sustainability yourself? → What specifically excites you about this role or company? 🧠 𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝘀𝘆𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 If you’re in marketing, product, comms or community, you need to become a pro at behavioural psychology Because sustainability isn’t just about “raising awareness” & selling stuff It’s about changing behaviour And that's really, really hard Start with: 📚 Nudge, Atomic Habits, Hooked 🎧 Nudge, The Behavioral Design Podcast, Choiceology, Hidden Brain 🧑💼 Connect with these recruiters → Mission Driven Talent → Rebel Recruiters → Above & Beyond - Climate Tech Recruitment → SR2 | Socially Responsible Recruitment | Certified B Corporation™ → Big Future 💻 Check out these job boards → Escape the City → jobsthatmatter → Tech Jobs for Good And here's a v helpful Notion page with many more resources curated by Nicole Kelner - https://lnkd.in/eEm5HuYJ 🚨 And finally… remember this: The climate crisis is an emergency There’s no such thing as “not qualified” - because we need to reinvent every single part of our economy and society Whatever your skillset - product, ops, finance, sales, data, HR, tech - it can be put to good use, because it needs to be all hands on deck 💡 PS Remember, you may not need to move company - perhaps you can have the biggest climate impact exactly where you are... ♻️ If you found this useful, give it a share. And pop any other helpful resources in the comments, including if you're hiring -------------------------------------- Follow Tessa Clarke 💚 for more straight talking on scaling startups & sustainability 🖐️ Wish your company redistributed its surplus food to local communities?  Find out how with Olio • Share More, Waste Less

The 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29), held in Baku, Azerbaijan, concluded. Here are the 10 key outcomes which will impact businesses: 1.Global Carbon Credit Market Established Businesses can trade carbon credits globally, incentivising emission reductions. Economic impact: Potential cost savings for compliant businesses and revenue opportunities for those investing in renewable projects. 2. $300 Billion Annual Climate Finance Commitment Funding will assist developing nations’ transitions to greener economies. Economic impact: Opportunities for businesses in infrastructure, renewable energy, and technology transfer in emerging markets. 3. $120 Billion Annual Pledge by Multilateral Banks Increased lending for climate-related projects in low- and middle-income countries. Economic impact: New markets for sustainable technologies and climate adaptation solutions. 4. Loss and Damage Fund Operationalised Financial assistance for nations affected by climate impacts. Economic impact: Businesses must account for increased disaster recovery costs and integrate resilience measures into operations. 5. Strengthened Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) Governments will require stricter compliance from businesses to meet climate targets. Economic impact: Increased compliance costs but also market opportunities for businesses offering low-carbon solutions. 6. Global Carbon Market Valuation at $250 Billion by 2030 Expansion of the carbon market creates a high-value trading ecosystem. Economic impact: New revenue streams for businesses innovating in emissions reduction technologies. 7. Increased Private Sector Investment Expected Policy alignment with 1.5°C goals will drive private sector financing of sustainable projects. Economic impact: Greater competition for investment in renewable and energy-efficient technologies. 8. Focus on Adaptation and Resilience Emphasis on addressing climate risks encourages businesses to prioritise resilient infrastructure. Economic impact: Increased costs for climate-proofing operations but reduced long-term risks. 9. Opportunities in Emerging Markets Developing nations receiving climate finance create demand for green technology and services. Economic impact: Growth prospects for businesses specialising in clean energy, water management, and waste reduction. 10. Economic Penalties of Inadequate Action The $2.5 trillion annual cost of climate impacts underscores the need for rapid action. Economic impact: Delayed adaptation exposes businesses to higher costs from supply chain disruptions, infrastructure damage, and reduced productivity. These outcomes highlight a dual impact: businesses face rising costs from compliance and climate risks, but proactive strategies aligned with COP29 goals offer significant opportunities for growth in the green economy. #cop29 #decarbonisation #co2 #emissions #carbon #carbonmarket #cop #un #unitednations #co2market

If you're just starting out in #climatecareer, follow the VCs. Not for the funding updates. Not even for the job leads. But for something far more foundational - clarity. I began my own journey in the so-called “NGO space,” working with philanthropies, DFIs, CSOs. We built collaborations, scaled programmes, fixed broken systems. But when I began intersecting with private capital venture funds backing climate tech startups it fast-tracked my understanding like nothing else. Suddenly, abstract terms like “grid storage”, “nature-based solutions”, and “sustainable cooling” had faces. Founders. Pivots. Business models. Exit stories. And in them, I found an education that no landscape report or policy memo could have offered. Take Avaana Capital for instance. They’ve backed everything from EV infra (Kazam) to agri innovations (Eeki) and grid storage (AmpereHour Energy). Just browsing their portfolio can teach you more about market signals, innovation bottlenecks, and funding trends than a semester-long seminar. Or Blume Ventures, who were early to bet on mobility and battery intelligence in CarbonClean Energy , ElectricPe , Battery Smart. If you’re curious about where India’s EV and decarbonisation stack is headed, their portfolio is a map. Then there are others: Beyond Next Ventures Inc. , Peak XV Partners, Leo Capital , Chiratae Ventures , Synapses , seafund , Climate Angels , Speciale Invest , ZeCa Capital . Each with its own thesis, its own set of bets. And collectively, they are shaping the contours of climate entrepreneurship in India. When I speak to young professionals trying to “break into climate”, they often ask where to start. My answer? Pick a VC. Read up on the companies they’ve backed. Try to understand why those companies matter, what problem they’re solving, and who benefits. It’ll take less time than reading every IPCC report, and possibly give you a more grounded entry point into the sector’s complexities. Because here's the thing: climate isn’t a sector, it’s a system. And the best way to understand a system is by following where the energy and money is flowing 🙂. So if you're starting out, don’t just chase degrees and job titles. Follow the capital. Decode the portfolios. Understand the bets. That’s how I’m learning. If you’ve discovered insights this way or are tracking portfolios yourself tag someone who should be building the next climate map with you. #ClimateCareers #ClimateTechIndia #ImpactInvesting #VCSignals #LearningInPublic #SocialImpact #BuildForClimate

Most of the advice for breaking into a climate career is now dangerously out of date. For years, the playbook has been singular: learn about solar, wind and EVs. That advice just became a fraction of the story. Last week, the Australian Government released two landmark documents: the National Climate Risk Assessment and the National Adaptation Plan. More than simply policy papers, they are a formal declaration that a second, parallel climate economy is here. The '𝗔𝗱𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝘆'. Backed by a A$9 billion commitment, the focus is no longer just on preventing future change. It’s on managing the reality that’s already here. The Risk Assessment provides the sobering 'why', confirming in stark detail the cascading impacts on our infrastructure, economy and communities. The Adaptation Plan provides the 'how', like investing in nature-based solutions such as the mangrove ecosystems that protect our coastlines (pictured). It creates a vast new frontier for career-transitioners. And it’s already the lived reality of the professionals building this new economy, many of whom are members of our Climate Crew community. It requires the urban planning skills of leaders like Roland Chanin-Morris of Ramboll, who is designing our future resilient cities. But physical assets are only half the picture. True resilience is built at the community level, which is why the strategic engagement work of founders like Nicole Dennis of Cobalt Engagement – leading those complex on-the-ground conversations – is now an essential service. This new reality also demands a new kind of strategist. People like Josue Castro of BWD Strategic, who has pivoted his high-level government experience to help organisations navigate climate risk, and systems thinkers like Oliver Dykes at Deloitte, who redesign entire organisations for a resilient future. Underpinning it all is a revolution in finance, driven by innovators like Renate Crollini of Adaluma Tech, who is building the tools to embed risk into capital decisions, guided by the global expertise of policy architects like Linda Romanovska of Melomys Advisory, who co-authors the international frameworks that make this possible. If you are a career seeker, I encourage you to connect with the people whose work you find most relevant. This is what Climate Crew is for: to make the connections that build the future. The message is clear. We don't 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 need renewable energy engineers. We need builders, planners, financiers and organisers. Your skills are now climate skills. The opportunity to find your life's work in climate has never been greater. #ClimateCareers #ClimateAdaptation #GreenJobs #ClimateAction #CareerTransition #NationalAdaptationPlan #WorkOnClimate Image: Mangroves in Woy Woy, NSW. Sourced from the National Adaptation Plan (Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water). © Commonwealth of Australia. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International.

FOAK (first of a kind) climate projects are all the rage right now - and it makes sense why. They're desperately needed. I've spent the last few months digging into this big opportunity for climate startups, the challenges that come with it, and the organizations who are working to fill the gaps. Here are the spark notes on what I’ve learned so far: Climate startups are facing a bottleneck. Many have built prototypes and shown proof of concept, mostly on the back of VC dollars, but taking the necessary next step of piloting and deploying their tech at a commercial scale is more akin to a massive leap. Challenges include… Funding - VC dollars are no longer enough. Building capital intensive infrastructure requires risk tolerant project finance, non-dilutive funding, and often philanthropy, all working in tandem. Expertise - Startup founders are innovators, not developers or financiers. Nor should they try to become those things. Rather, they can succeed by pulling in support from experts in these areas. Partnerships - This is the biggest one, in my opinion. Commercial-scale tech deployment by growth stage startups is a hugely multifaceted process. In addition to the startup team, the financial stakeholders, and the development experts, you also need buy-in from market incumbents (public or private) who can champion the technology within the market and serve as initial customers, as well as community-based organizations where projects will be built. And you need all of these stakeholders aligned and collaborating smoothly. Talk about herding cats! I will be focusing my efforts in 2024 on building more collaboration and better partnerships within this space, so that we can drive climate impact and get these amazing technologies to market. Here is a list of some companies I’ve come across who are already doing amazing work in this space: Elemental Excelerator is playing a big role as a convener with leadership from folks like Dawn Lippert, Saritha Peruri, and Danya Hakeem. Many orgs are focused on funding scale up projects, like Breakthrough Energy’s Catalyst group, Prime Coalition, Trent Yang’s Galway Sustainable Capital, Inc, Generate, FullCycle, Keyframe, and Wavelength Infra (Caroline McGeough). Third Sphere is making it easier for startups to understand the process and access capital (Shaun Abrahamson, Shilpi Kumar, Stonly Blue) Others are running programs to help connect growth stage startups with market incumbents for pilot projects, like Newlab (Shaina Horowitz, Carlos E. Trevino, Liz Keen), Uptake Alliance (Chris Richardson), Black & Veatch’s Ignite Program, Accenture (Jonathan Weitz), and Deep Science Ventures’s FOAXIAL Accelerator (Ahmad Butt). Sightline Climate (CTVC) wrote an awesome article recently about two successful FOAKs with LanzaTech and H2 Green Steel. I can’t list them all and even if I could, I’m sure there are so many who I’ve missed. So I’ll ask you: who are the orgs leading the way on FOAK climate projects?

World leaders have pledged to triple global renewable energy capacity by 2030, coinciding with an anticipated peak in fossil fuel usage, another indicator of a swift transition to clean energy.  But is the job market keeping pace with this shift? The global oil and gas industry saw a 21% decrease in the share of members working in it between January 2016 and August 2023, according to data from LinkedIn's Economic Graph. In sharp contrast, the renewable energy workforce saw a 26% increase in the same time period. This global shift is mirrored in the UAE where the share of members working in oil and gas recorded a 22% decrease between January 2016 and August 2023. However, there was only a marginal 0.10% increase in the renewable energy workforce. While this gradual shift to careers in the renewable energy industry is encouraging, employment in the global oil and gas industry is still five times larger than the renewables industry, LinkedIn data indicates. Reflecting this pattern, the share of the workforce in oil and gas in the UAE was 3.47% in August 2023, compared to 0.093% for renewable energy for the same period. Similarly in Saudi Arabia, oil and gas accounted for 4.53% of the workforce, the highest globally, and renewables 0.08%. Despite the projected growth of 'green careers', LinkedIn research highlights the challenge of breaking into green jobs. Over 80% of workers transitioning into a green job need prior experience or green skills. Having a similar skillset – to one that is required in the new green role – is a significant factor in transitioning to a career in the renewable industry. In the UAE, some of the highest transitions to green jobs where no previous green experience was needed include energy specialist, safety manager, and geologist. The green transition is underway in the UAE and Saudi Arabia but the labor market is struggling to keep up. What factors do you believe are holding back the growth of employment in the renewable energy sector? What policies or initiatives could address this challenge? We asked sustainability experts to chime in. Check out what they said and join the conversation using #GreenerTogether Hani Tohme, Nadia Boumeziout, Majd Fayyad, Suhail Diaz Valderrama, Alex Malouf, Ghiwa Nakat, Nahla Nabil Sources: https://lnkd.in/gAniP4_m https://lnkd.in/ghWz-Zfs https://lnkd.in/d9KVTjte