Green Career Paths

A Time to Reflect on the Tensions Between Growth and Sustainability #NYCW Next week, world leaders and industry giants will gather for New York Climate Week, ready to discuss collaboration to tackle the climate crisis. It’s a promising step, right? But here’s the twist: this all happens in a country that champions a capitalist economy—one that demands perpetual growth and profits. Can we really expect a system designed for “more, more, more” to suddenly protect the planet and its people? On one hand, development fuels progress, and progress is rooted in growth. On the other hand, that very pursuit of growth undermines sustainability. How can we reconcile this? Take maritime decarbonization: we’re focused on alternative fuels to cut emissions. But maybe the real solution lies in reducing global trade itself. Fewer ships, fewer emissions. Can we embrace that reality in a globalized world? Perhaps it’s time to rethink sustainability altogether. Instead of focusing solely on economic growth, we need to re-balance our approach, placing environmental sustainability on equal footing. Just as governments and regulators have propped up the economy, we need that same commitment to protect our ecosystems. Without environmental checks and balances, does a capitalist economy really set us up for a sustainable future? As we head into Climate Week, it’s worth critically evaluating the very foundations of our assumptions. Are we ready for real change—or are we simply polishing the surface of a flawed system?

The sustainability career path no one tells you about: 1. Learn the frameworks, acronyms, and tools (EPR, SBTi, LCA, ISO…). 2. Realize most stakeholders don’t speak that language. 3. Get great at translating targets into plain English. 4. Realize people don’t care about targets, they care about trade-offs. 5. Get great at connecting impact to P&L, risk, and brand. 6. Realize decisions still happen without (or despite) the evidence. 7. Get great at influence without authority: narratives, coalitions, timing. 8. Realize org politics and incentives beat logic on most Mondays. 9. Get great at choosing leverage points and letting go of the rest. 10. Finally understand the job was about people, not spreadsheets, all along. Tools, ratings, and policies change every year. Human nature doesn’t. Sustainability is people work. Invest accordingly.

16 corporate sustainability illusions (and how to shatter them) 1. Assuming one can decouple carbon emissions from economic growth sufficiently to live up to the Paris Agreement (there is no empirical evidence of that happening - Hickel & Vogel, 2023; Parrique et al., 2019; IPCC, 2022) 2. Assuming some new technology will magically appear and solve point 1 (techno-optimism ignores that hope is not a strategy - Parrique et al., 2019) 3. Assuming climate change is the only problem (when there are 8 other planetary boundaries - Richardson et al., 2023; Meadows et al., 1972; Herrington, 2020) 4. Assuming stable prices on energy and materials (when energy expenditures are increasing - Michaux, 2021; Parrique et al., 2019; see for yourself at trading economics dot com) 5. Assuming that increases in energy efficiencies lead to absolute energy and material reductions in a growth-based system (the money you save, you use to grow the output, to make more money, which cancels out the initial savings - also known as The Rebound Effect; Parrique et al., 2019) 6. Assuming that one can recycle their way out of the ecological crisis (the 2nd law of thermodynamics explains why that is not possible - Parrique et al., 2019) 7. Assuming that services have no, or an insignificant, ecological footprint (services cannot entirely replace the material sector - Parrique et al., 2019) 8. Assuming one can be a part of the solution to the ecological crises without addressing inequality (when they are connected, and inequality is rising; Oxfam, 2022; Shiva, 2018; Hickel & Sullivan, 2023) 9. Assuming minimum wages are enough (they are not living wages - Anker 2017) 10. Assuming one has to be the hero (justice is the answer, not charity - Gerber & Raina, 2018; Hanaček et al., 2019; Shiva, 2018; Andreotti, 2021; Max-Neef, 1989) 11. Assuming net zero - "do no harm" - is enough (a world in overshoot calls for regeneration - Reisinger et al., 2024; Global Footprint Network) 12. Assuming one can offset carbon emissions and continue business as usual (If you have an awful product and offset, you still have an awful product - Oxfam 2021) 13. Assuming if they "don't do it this way, someone else will do it and do it worse" (it's a lousy excuse; the leakage effect is rarely 100% - Beck et al., 2023) 14. Assuming one can only scale impact by growing the company's size (avoid growth tunnel vision; there are at least 7 other ways of scaling impact - Lam et al., 2023; Hinton, 2019) 15. Assuming bigger is always better (small is beautiful and less fragile; Shiva, 2020; E.F. Schumacher, 1973; Taleb, 2014) 16. Assuming one must wait for legislators to level the playing field (change does not come out of nowhere; it comes from bottom-up initiatives - Albarracin et al., 2024; Centola, 2021) Want to know more about how to shatter these illusions at your workplace and start a better-informed conversation? Start here today: https://lnkd.in/ePFW-j5a 

Today I have been asking myself the question: What if we're solving the wrong problem - chasing AI disruption while the real opportunity for human flourishing lies in the green economy? AI is getting all the headlines, but here's what the data actually shows: 🔹 AI impact: Creates 11M jobs, displaces 9M → Net gain: 2M jobs 🔹 Green transition: Creates 34M jobs with minimal displacement That's a 17:1 ratio in favor of green jobs. 🤯 Yet 90% of workforce discussions focus on AI disruption while climate jobs barely make the news. Why this massive disconnect? ✅ AI grabs attention - ChatGPT created immediate, visible change ✅ Green jobs seem gradual - but they're happening faster than we think ✅ Tech giants drive the narrative - while green jobs are distributed across industries ✅ 40% of employers expect AI workforce reductions - creating immediate anxiety The reality check: 1.2 billion jobs depend on healthy ecosystems Green jobs are harder to automate Climate action is literally existential Green skills show 22% growth in job postings vs 12% in available workers. Our future depends on our ability to close this gap. For professionals: While everyone's learning prompt engineering, there's a massive opportunity to apply YOUR existing skills to green roles: 🌱 Accountants → Carbon accounting & green finance 🌱 Teachers → Sustainability training & green skills education 🌱 IT professionals → Energy management systems & smart grids 🌱 Recruiters → Green talent acquisition (fastest growing field!) 🌱 Project managers → Renewable energy projects 🌱 Sales/Marketing → Clean tech & sustainable products ... and many more Maybe we should focus our upskilling efforts where the real job growth is happening? What do you think - are we chasing AI shiny objects while missing the green goldmine? Data sources: World Economic Forum Future of Jobs Report 2025, International Labour Organization, Manpower Global insights sustainability and the rise of green and turquoise jobs

According to the World Economic Forum’𝐬 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐉𝐨𝐛𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓, around 𝟑𝟗 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬 are expected to change by 2030. Among the 𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐟𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭-𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝𝐰𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩. This shows that the 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞. For professionals today, it is no longer enough to be technically competent in your domain. What sets 𝐟𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞-𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐟 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 is how well they 𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐬𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 into everything they do. I have noticed that individuals who begin saying things like “I optimise for resource efficiency” or “I design with circular value in mind” get asked different questions and enter different conversations. One memory that stands out is a marketing lead I advised. They reframed a campaign as “reducing material waste in the value chain” instead of simply “brand awareness.” The outcome changed: client meetings became 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥. 𝐌𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐞, 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫. Here are seven 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬 that will define 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 in the coming decade 𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 – Recognising your role as part of wider ecological, social, and value chains 𝐂𝐢𝐫𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 – Designing for reuse, repair, and renewal rather than single use 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐚 𝐅𝐥𝐮𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 – Interpreting energy use, carbon footprint, and resource flow data 𝐀𝐝𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 – Guiding teams through sustainable transition 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐠𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 – Accepting that what you know today will evolve and proactively adapting your competence 𝐄𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 – Taking conscious responsibility for resource impact 𝐒𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 – Innovating with both business growth and ecological and social impact in mind 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐛𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦, 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐢𝐭 If you want to remain relevant in the decade ahead, start weaving these green skills into your current role instead of waiting for a “green job” label. The market will reward those who think sustainably from day one, not just those who switch roles. Which green skill will you develop in the next six months, and how will it shape your professional story? LinkedIn #LinkedInGreenSkills #COP30 #FutureOfWork #CareerGrowth #Sustainability #GreenSkills

Did you know that India has the potential to create up to 350 lakh green jobs by 2047 across traditional and emerging sectors? I was glad to have had an interesting conversation around #GreenJobs on NDTV India recently! In this (Hindi) conversation with naghma sahar, we tried to demystify this avenue of employment for one and all to understand. Some key takeaways from our conversation: 1. Green Jobs: A spectrum of opportunities: We debunked the myth that Green Jobs are limited to science and engineering. From sustainability managers and clean energy specialists to environmental lawyers and green marketing experts, the spectrum is vast! ♻️ 2. Skills for a Sustainable Future: The discussion emphasized the importance of "Green Skills" – those that enable environmentally conscious practices across various industries. Upskilling and reskilling our workforce will be crucial for a smooth transition. 3. Bridging the Green Skills Gap: We acknowledged the need for robust training programs and certifications to equip individuals with the necessary skillsets to thrive in Green Jobs. Collaboration between academia, industry, and government is vital. 4. Green Jobs: A Win-Win: The discussion highlighted the dual benefit of Green Jobs. They not only contribute to environmental well-being but also fuel economic growth and create exciting career prospects. The conversation around Green Jobs is no longer a niche discussion, it's a necessity! We need to keep the momentum going by fostering dialogues, promoting green skills development, and creating a future where environmental responsibility and economic success go hand-in-hand. Some trivia: 1. Job searches in sustainability roles grew by 31 per cent between April 2022 and 2023! 2. While the supply still lags behind demand by over 48 per cent, ESG sector jobs in India have grown by a staggering 223 per cent between April 2019 and April 2023. 3. The bioenergy and green hydrogen sectors in India are predicted to create 2.7 and 1.8 lakh green jobs by 2030. 4. The origins of the concept of Green Jobs date back to 2008, when the Green Jobs Initiative was collectively launched by the International Labour Organization, International Trade Union Confederation - ITUC, UN Environment Programme and International Organisation of Employers (IOE). Let's continue the conversation! Share your thoughts on Green Jobs and their potential impact in the comments below. #Sustainability #FutureofWork #Climateleadership

Sustainability career experts and job seekers say landing a new job in the current economy — or making yourself more valuable to your current employer — comes down to one big thing #corporatesustainability professionals have been talking up for years: The ability to link emissions reductions and other environmental initiatives to business value creation. “Position ESG as a strategic enabler, not a compliance function,” said Pamela Gill Alabaster, who left her position this month as global head of ESG and sustainability for Tylenol maker Kenvue. The person now leading sustainability at Kenvue, for example, is part of the company’s research and development organization. Other suggestions: Be selective - “You could be following the perfect playbook, but you need to be attuned to what the organization is really looking for,” said Trish Kenlon, founder of Sustainable Career Pathways, pointing to research on six archetypes that typically shape how corporations govern ESG and sustainability.   Focus on what’s material - “Does the sustainability team pay for itself through the cost-savings initiatives the team has identified, led or operationalized?” asked J.R. Siegel, vice president of sustainability for software company Worldly. “De-risking is equally important, but it's harder to put a financial number on that work. Empower other business leaders - “Sustainability professionals just spent the past few years understanding every minute detail of the business to repurpose that data for reporting,” said author Matthew Sekol, a Microsoft “sustainability black belt” who helps advise the company’s customers. “Don't squander the opportunity for improvements and innovations that you are sitting on.   Create a ‘brand’ book - “Every time you complete a project, deliver something on time or support a business win, take note of it and make sure your leadership team knows about it,” said Ashley Fahey, former senior manager of global product sustainability at Kohler, who left the company in May. “Don’t be afraid to toot your own horn.” More career advice: https://lnkd.in/eVGN2qVJ Desta A. Raines Ellen Weinreb

🌍 Sustainability isn’t a one-department job. It’s a company-wide responsibility. Here are just a few examples of what's required to embed sustainability into a business' DNA 👇 • Finance: Alignment on budgets needed to support sustainability initiatives, both in the short and long term. • Legal: Ensuring global compliance and working cross-departmentally to protect the brand against risks such as greenwashing. • Marketing: Commitment to transparent, robust, and honest communications that build trust in the company’s sustainability journey. • People: A strategy to embed understanding of importance of sustainability in recruitment, training, and day-to-day culture. • Tech: Integration of sustainability requirements in the roadmap, from adopting new tools to enabling reliable reporting and measurement. • Leadership: Clear direction, leading by example, and allocating adequate resources to support sustainability as a strategic priority. • Board: Accountability at the top, ensuring sustainability goals drive and align with broader business growth. These are just a few examples—every department has a role to play. What would you add to the list? _____ ➕ Follow Abbie Morris for posts about sustainability, policy, and startups. 📧 Drop me a DM if you want to learn more about tackling the mountain of sustainability regulation facing the retail industry.

𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐡 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬, 𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐬𝐢𝐚. 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐛𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦. We wrote an South China Morning Post SCMP letter to emphasize important points for students and early-career professionals, along with Qihan Geng and Thibaud Voïta, Ph.D. 🛢️ Fossil fuels still hold power in many regions. Yet despite the noise, our energy system and the world are shifting. 👉 Last year, renewable energies created 8.4 million jobs while fossil fuels lost 2.7 million. 👉 Asia represents two-thirds of global clean energy jobs, with China accounting for 46%, totaling 7.4 million people! The sector demands a broad and growing workforce beyond engineering roles. 1️⃣ Energy transitions unfold through vast industrial ecosystems, contributing to job creation in areas like program management, marketing, and business development. 2️⃣ There are opportunities in roles not directly related to projects. In China, over 450 A-share listed companies, accounting for 51% of market capitalization, must follow new sustainability reporting guidelines set by the Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Beijing stock exchanges. Evolving regulations are fueling demand for ESG and compliance professionals, with growing opportunities for analysts, advisors, and sustainability officers. To take advantage of these opportunities: 👉 A technical background helps, but it’s no longer the barrier it once was. Industry-specific certifications and basic familiarity with emerging technologies can go a long way. 👉 People remain at the center of the transition, and soft skills like communication, adaptability, and collaboration are best developed through real-world experience (internships, volunteering, freelance projects). 👉 The sector, once male-dominated, is becoming more inclusive in terms of gender and professional background. 🔑 Energy transitions offer growth potential. To succeed, proactive career strategies are essential. Career opportunities are defined by unconventional moves such as reskilling and upskilling! 📍 For these reasons, we created the new MSc - Management of Energy Transitions. Link below for more info! Nikola Zivlak William-HUA Wang Marion Lempereur Emeline Santoulangue

𝐖𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞? 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞’𝐬 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭. I often get asked about how to build a career in climate. And while there’s no single path, there are some key things that can make the journey a whole lot easier. Here are my top five tips: 1️⃣ 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂. Climate careers are vast—from policy to finance, tech to education, and beyond. Take time to figure out what genuinely excites you. Read, listen, talk to people. If you don’t know where to start, start everywhere—your curiosity will guide you. 2️⃣ 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗮𝘀 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗮𝗻. And no, that doesn’t just mean full-time jobs. Volunteering, side projects, networking, even engaging in online discussions can build your knowledge and credibility. The climate space values action. 3️⃣ 𝗗𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗹𝘆. It’s easy to think another degree or certification is the answer. But before you invest time and money, be clear on where it will take you. Will it actually open doors or just feel like progress? 4️⃣ 𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗷𝗼𝗯 𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻. A “Sustainability Manager” can mean wildly different things depending on the company. Look at job descriptions, not just titles. See what skills are really in demand. 5️⃣ 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗱 (𝗼𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱) 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆. Climate work can be challenging, but you don’t have to do it alone. Connect with people who share your interests, whether online or in person. Community = opportunities, support, and motivation when the work feels heavy. Building a career in climate isn’t about following a single path—it’s about carving your own. 🌍💡 What’s been the most helpful thing for you in navigating purpose-driven work? Let’s swap insights. 👇