Global Environmental Careers. Justin Taberham

jobs are decent jobs that contribute to preserve or restore the environment, be they in traditional sectors such as manufacturing and construction, or in new, emerging green sectors such as renewable energy and energy efficiency.

      Green jobs help:

       Improve energy and raw materials efficiency

       Limit greenhouse gas emissions

       Minimise waste and pollution

       Protect and restore ecosystems

       Support adaptation to the effects of climate change

      In its Green Jobs Programme outputs, Gloria Acuña Navarro, from the National Learning Institute of Costa Rica noted:

      Green jobs can embrace environmental practices and decent work conditions to varying degrees. Enterprises can start with small/‘lighter’ green initiatives and with time move towards more comprehensive/’darker’ green initiatives. Improving the environmental and social qualities of jobs is a continuous process that seeks to achieve sustainable development at national level.

      Joanne Martens has developed the ‘Green World of Work’ Principle:

      The Green World of Work (Martens 2020)

      Change has impacted every aspect of our lives. There are tremendous forces reshaping society and with it, the world of work. Organisations and individuals are being required to accept their social, economic and environmental responsibilities. Sustainability and Resilience enable us to survive and thrive.

      Environmental Sustainability

      We face a number of environmental sustainability challenges in our communities, country and planet. Challenges are areas of focus that must be addressed to be sure that we have a healthy planet and to ensure that current resources will be in good shape for future generations.

      Which Environmental Challenge Do You Care Most About?

      Clean Water – Manage, deliver and treat water needed for industrial, agricultural, personal use and more responsible global use.

      Communities – Build sustainable communities – neighbourhoods and cities – geared to human needs, so people can live and work in healthier ways.

Energy Efficiency – Increase energy conservation by reducing energy waste in our homes, businesses, cars and communities.

      Food – Produce local organic food to keep people and the planet ‘healthy’. Encourage safer agricultural growth and develop cleaner processes in food production.

      Green Construction – Build homes and businesses that are energy efficient, are healthy to live in and minimise waste.

      Green Transportation – Design, build and use alternative transportation systems that move people and goods in energy efficient ways. Expand virtual capacity to minimise travel.

      Healthy Environment – Protect and rebuild our environmental resources – oceans, forests and water – and preserve the diversity of plants and animals.

      Healthy People – Keep people healthy as environmental changes endanger human health worldwide.

      Reducing Waste – Eliminate waste and decrease the use of landfills. Refuse one‐time use products. Reduce consumption. Reuse materials and increase creative strategies. Recycle materials saves money and energy.

      Renewable Energy – Generate renewable energy by harnessing wind, solar, geothermal and water resources.

      Career Self‐Reliance

      Career Self‐Reliance is a lifelong commitment to actively manage your work life and learning in a rapidly changing environment. ‘Work is what you do to learn a living’ (Career Action Center 1997).

       How Are You Developing the Characteristics of Career Self‐Reliance?

       Self‐Aware – You know who you are, where and how you do your best work; you understand and can articulate the value you add.

       Values‐Driven – You have determined the values that give direction and meaning to your work.

       Dedicated to Continuous Learning – You regularly benchmark your current skills and create a development plan to keep your skills current.

       Future‐Focused – You look ahead to assess customer needs and business trends; you consider the impact of those trends on your work and on your development plan.

       Connected – You maintain a network of contacts for learning and sharing ideas; you work collaboratively with others towards mutual goals.

       Flexible – You anticipate change and are ready to adapt quickly.

      World of Work

      The concept of work is employment.

       The structure of work are companies, organisations, governments and communities.

       The work that needs to be done is often defined by jobs, roles, occupations, etc.

       The workforce is made up of people who possess the knowledge, skills and attitudes to perform the work.

       The work environment is physical, virtual and cultural.

      How Do You Fit into the New World of Work?

      The New World of Work redefined the social contract of long‐term employment, a dependent relationship between employer and employee to a social agreement between organisations and workers, developing interdependent relationships and fostering a resilient workforce. Instead of one career for a lifetime, the norm is between three and five careers in a lifetime.

      Changemakers

      Changemakers of the green generation are playing important roles in all challenge areas to achieve environmental sustainability. Changemakers work in government, business and industry, non‐profit organisations and research and education institutions.

       What Changemaker Role Most Interests You?

       Policymaker – Guide people to make decisions and take action to do the right thing.

       Innovator – Work with ideas, research facts and develop new methods, products or designs.

       Communicator – Educate and inform others about issues, solutions and products.

       Implementer – Get the job done and make solutions a reality.

      Fundamentally, if your career path is to pursue a green career, you may have a reasonable idea as to the type of jobs you would like to seek. However, the confusion over definitions means that the targeting of ‘green funding’ by governments can often miss the target in terms of driving green career development and the number of truly ‘green’ jobs.

1.5 The Global Green Jobs Sector

      The environment is a growing sector for employment globally, and there is also a growing public awareness of green issues, on a global scale. The diversity of green jobs has accelerated, with new sectors of employment being stimulated by technological advances (often called ‘Green Tech’).

      Green jobs span a wide array of occupational profiles, skills and educational background and, while some constitute