20 Essential Skills for Green Careers in a Changing Climate

The Climate Crisis is here, but so are tangible ways to fight it! Green Skills are amongst the most in-demand skills in the job market. The United Nations defines “green skills” as “the knowledge, abilities, values, and attitudes needed to live in, develop and support a sustainable and resource-efficient society.” Knowing how to restore ecosystems, installing solar panels, and building connections can make a real difference for our planet.

Here are a few examples of roles in the green workforce:

🟢 Solar Panel Installation

What it is: Setting up and wiring solar panels to capture sunlight and power homes and businesses.

Why it matters: Solar power is booming worldwide, with over 4.9 million jobs globally related to solar technology. This saves homeowners money and helps our planet.

Future roles: Solar Panel Installer, Energy Tech

🟢 Sustainability Reporting

What it is: Reporting a company’s impact on the environment to keep them accountable.

Why it matters: More companies are focusing on transparency, and need sustainability managers to keep them accountable to their commitments.

Future roles: Sustainability Manager, CSR Specialist

🟢 Wind Turbine Maintenance

What it is: Inspecting and repairing wind turbines to make sure they run smoothly.

Why it matters: Wind energy is a fast-growing field, with 7.5% job growth in the U.S. wind sector alone​.

Future roles: Wind Turbine Tech, Wind Farm Operator

🟢 Energy Auditing

What it is: Checking buildings to find where energy is being wasted and making them more efficient.

Why it matters: Energy efficiency has tons of career options. It’s currently the largest employer within the clean energy sector, with over 2.2 million jobs.

Future roles: Energy Auditor, Efficiency Consultant.

🟢 Battery Management & Energy Storage

What it is: Managing batteries that store extra energy from solar or wind.

Why it matters: Stored energy keeps the lights on, even on cloudy days. As renewable energy becomes more popular, storage systems are essential to maintaining a stable electricity supply.

Future roles: Battery Tech, Storage Operator

🟢 Environmental Health & Safety

What it is: Making sure green projects are safe and meet environmental standards.

Why it matters: More green projects need experts who know the rules as environmental regulations and safety standards continue to increase.

Future roles: EHS Engineer, Safety officer

🟢 Smart Grid Management

What it is: Using digital tools to make our energy grid more efficient and reliable.

Why it matters: Smart grids help us use renewables better by enabling more efficient use of energy and helping to reduce power outages.

Future roles: Grid Analyst, Modernization Specialist

🟢 LEED Certification & Sustainable Building

What it is: Designing eco-friendly buildings that use less energy and water.

Why it matters: Green construction is in high demand as the building industry increasingly focuses on sustainability.

Future roles: LEED Consultant, Sustainable Architect

🟢 Electric Vehicle (EV) Infrastructure Installation

What it is: Setting up charging stations to power electric vehicles.

Why it matters: EVs are the future of transportation. In 2022, the EV market added nearly 50,000 jobs in clean vehicle manufacturing and infrastructure development.

Future roles: EV Installer, Infrastructure Engineer.

🟢 Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA)

What it is: Analyzing a product’s total environmental impact from start to finish.

Why it matters: More companies want to go green and they're adopting circular economy practices. This skill is crucial in designing sustainable products that reduce waste and emissions.

Future roles: LCA Analyst, Sustainability Consultant

🟢 Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR)

What it is: Developing plans to help communities prepare for natural disasters.

Why it matters: Climate disasters are increasing worldwide The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction projects that by 2030, 560 disasters will occur globally each year. In fact, climate change-driven disasters cost the global economy over $200 billion annually​.

Future roles: Disaster Risk Manager, Resilience Officer.

🟢 Climate Data Analysis & Modeling

What it is: Using data to predict climate risks, like floods and droughts.

Why it matters: Data helps us plan for climate impacts. The market for climate data services is projected to grow by over 15% annually due to increasing demand from governments and corporations for predictive modeling of climate impacts​.

Future roles: Climate Data analyst, Environmental Modeler

🟢 Hydrology & Water Resource Management

What it is: Protecting and managing water resources, especially in times of drought.

Why it matters: Water is life, and we need to manage it well. The U.S. experienced its worst drought in 1,200 years in 2022, stressing water resources and creating high demand for hydrologists and water resource engineers.

Future roles: Hydrologist, Water Resource Engineer

🟢 Wildfire Management

What it is: Analyzing and preventing wildfires to protect forests and communities.

Why it matters: Wildfires are becoming more common and dangerous. Canada’s 2023 wildfires burned over 17.2 million hectares, more than six times the 10-year average. The increasing frequency and intensity of wildfires have driven demand for wildfire management experts, with job growth projected at 24% for fire protection engineers​.

Future roles: Fire Ecologist, Wildfire Management Specialist.

🟢 Coastal & Floodplain Management

What it is: Protecting coastlines and flood-prone areas from rising water levels.

Why it matters: Sea levels are rising, putting millions at risk. Over 410 million people could be at risk from rising sea levels by 2100 as a result of the climate crisis. Coastal management jobs are growing in demand as the U.S. alone has over $1 trillion in coastal infrastructure at risk​.

Future roles: Coastal Engineer, Flood Manager

🟢 Ecosystem Restoration & Land Management

What it is: Rebuilding natural areas to protect against climate impacts.

Why it matters: Healthy ecosystems support life and fight climate change. The UN is aiming to restore 350 million hectares of degraded land, creating a demand for professionals in land management.

Future roles: Restoration Ecologist, Land Manager

🟢 Sustainable Urban Planning

What it is: Designing eco-friendly cities that are resilient to climate change.

Why it matters: Cities are growing, and they need to grow sustainably. 68% of the world’s population is projected to live in urban areas by 2050 as a result, sustainable urban planning is one of the fastest-growing fields, with an expected 11% job growth for urban planners​.

Future roles: Urban Planner, Environmental Planner

🟢 Agricultural Resilience & Drought Management

What it is: Developing farming practices that can withstand climate change.

Why it matters: Climate-resilient farming helps ensure food security. The climate crisis is projected to reduce the yield of global agriculture by 10-25% by 2050, so professionals that can help ensure global food security will be in demand.

Future roles: Agricultural Resilience Specialist, Irrigation Engineer

🟢 Climate Policy & Environmental Law

What it is: Creating and enforcing laws to protect the environment.

Why it matters: Policy drives real change and climate action. As more than 190 countries work toward the Paris Agreement goals, there is a growing demand for climate policy professionals. Careers in this field are expected to grow by 8% by 2026​.

Future roles: Policy Advisor, Environmental Lawyer

🟢 Community Engagement & Climate Education

What it is: Educating people about climate change and resilience.

Why it matters: Engaged communities are better prepared for climate impacts. Climate-related disasters threaten 1.3 billion people globally, making community education and engagement a critical part of disaster preparedness​.

Future roles: Climate Educator, Community Resilience Officer