In addition to the recent attention that elevated it into the American mainstream, the green jobs industry has been a developing field for the past few decades. Patrick Heffernan study from 1976 Green Jobs: The Next Green Collar Revolution reported to congress on the importance of environmental awareness in business and government. alan durning book Green Collar Jobs first introduced the term to the United States. Focusing on the post-logging peoples of the Pacific Northwest, his work examines the shift from an economic dependence on the land’s natural resources to a consciousness of environmental and ecological preservation. This opened the doors to green-collar industry and fields such as sustainable forestry, natural resource conservation, and ecological restoration. And, in 2006, Dr. Raquel Pinderhughes of San Francisco State University defined green-collar jobs as “blue-collar jobs in green businesses, that is, blue-collar jobs in businesses whose products and services directly improve environmental quality.” , finally offering a concrete definition of the term.

Today, with environmental awareness at an all-time high, we are seeing an increase in employment opportunities across the board. Scientists are needed to analyze, protect and monitor the environment and society’s interaction with it. Developers and urban planners are needed to design and build environmentally friendly neighborhoods, parks, recreational areas, and commercial and housing developments. The field of alternative and renewable energy has opened the doors to engineering students, technicians, analysts, and environmental managers seeking to “green” their careers.

The American Solar Energy Society (ASES) has stated that there are 8.5 million jobs in the field of solar energy. Educators ranging from middle school earth science teachers to environmental biology professors are providing much-needed instruction and preparation to an enthusiastic generation eager to repair the planet in the fields of environmental stewardship, natural resource conservation, and forest preservation. Organic and sustainable agriculture, one of the oldest green professions, continues to be an ever-growing field as people become more aware of environmentally responsible farming practices.

So even if your interests and education don’t involve years of study in agronomy or geology, water conservancy, or landscape architecture, you can still find a career that allows you to “go green.”

ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER

professional field

Environmental engineers are finding jobs in the fields of urban planning, green building, farms, and solar, wind, and hydroelectric power plants. These engineers with environmental education conduct construction site assessments, work with architects and planners on construction projects, work with environmental legislators, work as electrical technicians and engineers, and use their knowledge of pollution effects and control to work for large plants and manufacturers.

Environmental engineers, along with their technical and analytical expertise, focus on environmental compliance issues and work with managers and executives on compliance with federal regulatory practices.

So whether a student has a background in science or technology, there are plenty of jobs in the green-collar industry that can help the environment.

University education

For most high-level engineering positions, an advanced degree is required. However, people with environmental engineering degrees can find work with a bachelor’s degree. Core courses in most college programs emphasize mathematics, physics, and the natural sciences.

job prospects

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), environmental engineers will see a 10-25% increase in the job market over the next decade.

Engineering salaries have always been above the average for the US workforce, and as the demand for environmental engineers in new “green” fields grows, these salaries will too.

SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECT

professional field

Sustainable architects are in high demand as the push for “greener” building practices spreads from the commercial to residential industries. Sustainable architects work closely with urban planners and parks and recreation professionals to develop sustainable environments for living, business, and recreation.

University education

Most architecture schools are integrating “green” building practices into their curriculum and degree programs. Sustainable architecture courses are found in sustainable design programs, urban planning programs and, as they become more prevalent in academia, sustainable architecture programs.

job prospects

The US Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) initiative has led to new guidelines for implementing “green” standards for construction companies. Sustainable architects will be in high demand as communities old and new want to follow the green trend and bring their properties up to these new standards.

The US Green Building Council reports that the US green building industry has a turnover of more than $5 billion in the last two years and currently stands at $12 billion. More money spent means more opportunities.

URBAN / LAND USE PLANNERS

professional field

One of the biggest challenges facing the green revolution is the conversion of the urban landscape towards acceptable environmental sustainability. As epicenters of the use (and misuse) and waste of resources, the urban landscape in the US needs to be designed (and fixed) from an environmental and ecological point of view. Environmentally educated planners dedicated to reshaping our communities around resource efficiency and waste reduction will be essential.

University education

Many Urban Planning and Public Policy programs are adding sustainable design and planning to their curriculum. Along with the natural and social sciences, students receive education in engineering and architecture to help them in the new field of green urban planning.

job prospects

According to the BLS, employment of urban planners is expected to grow at a rate of 15% over the next decade. This is driven by the need to preserve existing urban communities and provide them with ways to become more “green” conscious and energy and resource efficient. In addition, the largest sector of this industry will be concerned with the development of new environmentally sound urban communities.

ENVIRONMENTAL LAWYER

professional field

Finally, a law practice that receives more applause than scorn from the general public. Law students are finding this “green” legal field readily available in their university’s curriculum and the career field is very welcoming. The “greening” of the nation has seen the enactment of dozens of federal policies, various acts of Congress, and countless corporate and business regulations. When a corporation or large business fails to comply with federal green regulations, an environmental law group steps in to ensure the group’s future compliance. It is the job of environmental law students to work as policy advocates and consultants to make sure that corporations, states and cities, and the general public adhere to these new green initiatives.

University education

Many law schools across the country now offer JD degrees with a concentration in environmental law. Programs are now becoming interdisciplinary, with courses offered in the natural and social sciences in areas such as conservation, ethics, politics, and national and global issues.

job prospects

As US corporations seek guidance on the ecological impact of their actions, from land use to pollution control, the need for environmental lawyers and corporate consultants is expected to increase at a rate of 25 percent over the next decade (EPA).

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST

Many fields of environmental science are now in high demand. Environmental scientists can be found in “green” fields of business ranging from agriculture to education, and from energy to construction. They often work as consultants in the development of natural parks and as researchers in new forms of biofuel production and pollution control.

University education

They take the training they acquired at the university level in the natural sciences (biology, chemistry, ecology, geology, forestry) and apply it to the world of work, all with a focus on conservation and protection of the environment. For research positions and higher-level managers, an advanced degree is usually required. However, environmental scientists with bachelor’s degrees are finding a wealth of opportunities available.

job prospects

According to the BLS, employment of environmental scientists is expected to increase at a rate of 25 percent over the next decade, a rate much higher than the national average. Currently, 43% of all environmental scientists work for local, state, or federal governments (BLS). Many work for consulting firms or as private consultants.

THE BEST PROFESSIONS IN THE FIELD

conservation biologist

Conservation biologists focus on the protection and restoration of biodiversity in various ecosystems on the planet. They develop environmental planning and management practices to maintain wildlife and the resources of the earth’s natural ecology.

hydrologist

Hydrologists use knowledge of science and mathematics to improve and solve water quality problems. They work with natural bodies of water to improve aquatic ecosystems, and also with man-made reservoirs to improve the quality of drinking water and irrigation for agriculture.

toxicologist

Toxicologists study the causes and effects of harmful toxins and how we can best protect ourselves from exposure to poisons. Toxicologists study how we are exposed to toxins, the levels needed to harm us, and how to reduce or eliminate the effects of toxins. They study the effect of toxins in drinking water, produce, household cleaning products, and many other everyday products.

Ecologist

Ecologists study the relationship between the environment and actions that affect it, including weather, pollution, climate change, human interference, and industrialization. Ecologists work in a variety of environmental fields including forest preservation, wildlife science and protection (especially working with endangered species restoration), park and forest development, and wildlife conservation. water and natural resources. The main objective and responsibility of all ecologists is the preservation and sustainability of the environment.