Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Careers

As politicians and the general public have come to consensus with the scientific community about the causes and implications of climate change, the question being considered has shifted from “does it exist?” to “what do we do about it?” There are two main policy responses to climate change: mitigation and adaptation. Mitigation addresses the root causes by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, while adaptation seeks to lower the risks posed by the consequences of climatic changes. Adaptation measures may be planned in advance or put in place in response to a local pressure. They include large-scale infrastructure changes – such as building sea walls to protect against sea-level rise or improving the quality of road surfaces to withstand hotter temperatures – as well as behavioral shifts such as individuals using less water, farmers planting different crops and more households and businesses buying flood insurance.¹

Of particular interest to the National Wildlife Federation are mitigation and adaptation strategies drawn from natural systems. Natural climate solutions represent a promising opportunity of job growth and economic sustainability. These solutions range from coastal restoration to forest and watershed management to mined land reclamation. For more information on these strategies, and their impact on the economy and employment projections, check out this Employment & Economic Benefits of Natural Climate Solutions white paper.² Also, check out Climatebase for an updated list of job opportunities at all levels!
   

Sizing Climate Adaptation Jobs:

The overall job outlook for careers related to addressing climate change has been positive since 2004. Vacancies for Climate Change Analysts, for example, have increased 22% nationwide in that time, with an average growth of 3.70% per year. Demand for Climate Change Analysts is expected to increase, with an expected 28,100 new jobs to be filled by 2018. This represents an annual increase of 4.30% over the next few years for just one of many fields within the broader range of jobs related to climate adaptation.²
 

Salaries for Climate Adaptation Jobs: 

Salaries for Climate Adaptation jobs will vary. The average annual salary of a Climate Change Analyst is $70,770, though a wide range exists (i.e., from $38,980 to $112,990). Salaries vary depending on several factors, including level of education, amount of experience, industry, company size and location.³
 

Required Education and Certifications

Climate change analysts typically need a minimum of an associate’s degree or comparable postsecondary training. New technicians are often trained on the job by more experienced analysts on a variety of aspects, such as relevant environmental and health regulations and standards and proper methods and procedures for conducting experiments, inspections, and other tasks.⁴

Most employers prefer applicants who have at least an associate’s degree or two years of post-secondary training in a natural science or science-related technology, and technicians who have a bachelor’s degree are often able to advance to environmental scientist positions.

With a master’s degree in environmental engineering or related disciplines (see table below), an EcoLeader seeking to make a difference in Climate Adaptation will be eligible for higher-level positions, such as Climate Adaptation Analysts, Strategists or Director.

Interesting Academic and Certification Programs in Climate Adaptation
Antioch University | Climate Resilience Certificate for Professionals (Certificate)
West Los Angeles College | Climate Change and Environmental Studies (Associate Degree)
St Petersburg College | Environmental Technology (Associate of Science)
Edmonds Community College | Energy Management (Associate Degree)
Montgomery County Community College | Environmental Science (Associate Degree)
University of Idaho | Environmental Science and Natural Resources (M.S.)
North Carolina State University | Climate Change and Adaptation (M.S.)
Johns Hopkins University | Energy Policy and Climate (M.S.)
University of Denver | Natural Resource Management  (M.S.)
University of California, Riverside | Global Climate and Environmental Change (M.S.)
United Nations University | Postgraduate Courses on Building Resilience to Climate Change 
University of Adelaide | Climate Change Adaptation (Graduate Certificate)
University of British Columbia | Decision Making in Climate Change (Post Graduate Certificate)
 

Climate Adaptation Project Examples from the NWF Sustainability Database:

Climate Change EcoTopic Page - Start here to find lots of resources for you to start and share your own Campus or Community Climate EcoProject in the EcoLeaders community! Or find inspiration from the following projects that other EcoLeaders have done:

• Truman State – Missouri established a ¼ acre carbon sequestration plot and windbreak, containing 585 woody plants and an herbaceous understory, at the University Farm.
• Colby College – Maine extended the success of their campus sustainability efforts to the City of Waterville by employing a summer student intern to with community officials to help increase their sustainability efforts.
• Western Michigan University – Michigan conducted a Greenhouse Gas Inventory and developed a Climate Action Plan for their university and also created a best practices report for American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) signatories based on the findings from the first 100 campuses to create GHG reports.
• Eastern Mennonite University – Virginia constructed a 100,000 gallon storm water management cistern. The $90,000 project harvests water runoff draining from houses, buildings, roads, and parking lots across 15 acres of university property.
• Edgewood College – Wisconsin created a number of campus rain gardens to promote the use of rain gardens as an alternative stormwater management practice that provides bioretention and ecological restoration while also promoting awareness between people and the environment they live in.
• Georgia Institute of Technology – Georgia: The Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) has developed a water filtration systems Testing and Training Center designed to support international recovery and development efforts.
   

RESOURCES:

 

1. The Guardian. “What is Climate Change Adaptation?” Retrieved on July 20, 2015.
2. National Wildlife Federation. "Employment & Economic Benefits of Natural Climate Solutions" Retrieved on July 7, 2020.
3. Recruiter.com. “Career Outlook for Climate Change Analyst.” Retrieved on July 20, 2015.
4. Sokanu.com. “What is the average salary for a Climate Change Analyst?” Retrieved on July 20, 2015.
5. Sokanu.com. “Becoming a Climate Change Analyst.” Retrieved on July 20, 2015.

By: Rosemary Reed, NWF EcoLeader Fellow, 2015