Environmental crises/climate change and related job opportunities

Varian

How can I best poise myself to profit from Global Warming? I am getting out of the military next year and need to decide on a college and area of study. I am interested in learning a lot of things - I have an AA in Korean Area Studies through my military service already and am finishing up my CCAF

Community College of the Air Force

degree. So I have an interest in continuing to study and become proficient in foreign languages, and though I haven't really looked into them I am concerned about things like environmentalism and energy production/efficiency. What sort of careers do you guys think I should look into, and/or any schools which might be better suited to such things? Random thoughts are also acceptable. Thanks.

PeregrineFalcon

Varian wrote: »

How can I best poise myself to profit from Global Warming?

Fearmongering seems to be working well.

TexiKen

Do those carbon credit things. Take $1,000, plant 1 tree, make celebrities feel better about themselves.

RUNN1NGMAN

Pretty much any field of study can be applied to environmental issues. What do you like? Lots of universities' engineering departments are working on environmental/climate related projects like alternative energy sources. Econ will be big, as communities start focusing on smart growth. sciences like chemistry, physics, biology, geology, remote sensing, meteorology all have environmental applications. Public policy/government related studies would also be helpful.

Szechuanosaurus

Do whatever you are qualified to do but promote your company or services as a 'carbon neutral alternative'.

Varian

The how to profit phrase is not meant to be taken seriously and is based on this: http://www.amazon.co.jp/How-Profit-Coming-Rapture-Getting/dp/0316017302. I just want to be involved in making the world a better place through my work and was wondering what sort of big picture things I could start looking into in terms of an actual career, and what sort of jobs would interest you all.

Szechuanosaurus

Well, I guess alternative fuels will be important going forward. Most fuel companies are already investing in research into alternatives for when the oil inevitably runs out. Maybe Koreans will be the next big thing in alternative fuels.

Zombie Nirvana

Jobs that do the most actual good are generally compliance and engineering jobs for industry. You generally need a science or engineering degree for this. If you want to do pretend good for the planet, then you could work for government or an environmental lobby. Alternatively you could go into research and academics, most of them are worthless.

Once you actually get into this stuff though you'll probably find that everything is not quite as cut and dry as you thought. However, the demand for environmental jobs should be in an upward trend for the near future.

Szechuanosaurus

I guess even just being an environmental consultant could be a good idea. Organisations like the Carbon Trust in the UK employ consultants who go to companies to show them how to make their offices more 'green' (turning off lights, separating rubbish for recycling etc.) in preparation for ISO 14001 certification. I'd imagine that more or less anyone enthusiastic about grass-roots environmental initiatives could be trained to do that work.

Zombie Nirvana

Yes, ISO and Health/Safety work would probably be ideal for someone with a military background.

Dman

If your specialty is in foreign languages you might find yourself a position managing foreign resources. Company X buys the logging rights to foreign country Y's forest..you speak country Y's language, you go over there to oversee the replanting program or some such.

Or maybe negotiating for a foreign country to mass produce solar panels your company designs.

I'm sure there are lot's of jobs that are environment related and require language skills. Heck, you could probably get a job as an ecotourist guide in whatever country you speak the language of. Who wouldn't pay for an ex military guy who knows the local language to tour them around the "dangerous foreign country".