“It is our collective and individual responsibility to preserve and tend to the world in which we all live”, quoted by Dalai Lama, highlights the need for us to take up careers to save the environment and preserve the world around us.
While on a fundamental level we are aware of the growing need for preserving our environment, current media headlines only demonstrate that serious efforts to put it into practice are still a long time coming. Consider the recent example of the after-effects of Diwali, where despite public warnings and government measures to control cracker use, pollution levels were still at an all-time high.
It is a sad state to see our precious Earth fall into a state of deterioration before our very eyes, and it is time we do something about it. If you are serious about undertaking change, you can make environment protection your life’s calling!
There are multiple careers that help you do your bit. Let’s look at careers to save the environment.
1. Sustainability Management
The best way to protect the future is to design it and designing a healthy, environment-friendly future is the role of a Sustainability Manager. Sustainability Managers are appointed by companies to ensure that the company does not harm the environment in any way. As a Sustainability Manager, you make recommendations to the company to take measures to ensure environmentally-friendly practices, while maintaining financial viability for the organisation.
For instance, you might introduce a recycling program, create a long-term plan that completely reworks your company’s supply chain, or recommend using energy-efficient lights in the offices. You look at all aspects of the company and figure out ways big and small to make things more energy-efficient and less wasteful.
How to Become a Sustainability Manager– Complete an undergraduate degree in Environmental Engineering, Economics or other relevant courses then pursue Sustainability Management at the master’s level through an MBA in Sustainability Management or an M.A./M.Sc. in Climate Change and Sustainability Studies.
2. Wildlife Conservation and Indian Forest Services (IFS)
With more and more species becoming endangered, it is important to ensure variety and variability of life on earth. Wildlife Conservationists work to preserve ecosystems, implementing biodiversity programs across wildlife habitats like rain forests, oceans, and grasslands. Commonly employed by local, state and national governments, wildlife conservationists help preserve the habitats of plants and animals. Their job duties include studying soil and water, as well as striving to prevent wildfires, taking measures to prevent species from going extinct, etc.
The job of a Wildlife Conservationist is closely related with that of an IFS officer. An IFS officer implements the National Forest Policy to ensure environmental stability and maintenance of ecological balance.
How to Become a Wildlife Conservationist– Earn a Bachelor’s degree in a subject related to Wildlife Biology (Wildlife Biology, Marine Biology, Zoology, etc.), followed by a Master’s degree in Wildlife Biology and Conservation and get certified as a Wildlife Biologist.
To become an IFS officer, you need a Bachelor’s degree with at least one of the subjects namely, Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science, Botany, Chemistry, Geology, Mathematics, Physics, Statistics and Zoology, Agriculture, Forestry or Engineering from a recognized university and then you need to clear the IFS examination conducted by UPSC annually.
Read More: Career in Wildlife Conservation in India
3. Environmental Engineer
To take up the herculean task of reviving the environment from current damage and preventing future deterioration, we also require the infrastructure and devices to do it. Environmental Engineers make this possible. Environmental Engineers utilise scientific and engineering principles to create machines, programs, products that won’t be detrimental to the environment and will help solve environmental problems.
For example, they may design machines that clean up polluted water and make it safe for drinking purposes. Their expertise is in environmental protection, pollution control, waste reduction, recycling, and public health issues.
How to Become an Environmental Engineer– You need a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Engineering. Alternatively, you can pursue Civil Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Agricultural Engineering, or any other related field, followed by a Master’s degree in Environmental Engineering.
Read More: Environmental Engineering as a Career in India
4. Landscape Architect and Urban Planner
Landscape Architects plan and design outdoor areas in such a way that they are compatible with the natural environment. For example, residences, parks, shopping centres, school campuses, golf courses, and parkways are designed in a way so as to let the environment breathe, ensuring enough space for water to seep into the ground, ensuring that their design won’t cause water logging and will be natural disaster resilient. Hence, they help create beautiful, functional, and environment-friendly cities.
Urban or Regional Planners help local governments decide how to best use their land and resources to prevent congestion and create aesthetically-pleasing public spaces. They develop plans and programs along with government officials, the public, and developers.
How to Become a Landscape Architect/Urban Planner– Complete your bachelor’s and master’s degree in Landscape Design or alternatively, you can pursue a bachelor’s in architecture followed by a master’s in Landscape Architecture. To be an Urban Planner, you can pursue a bachelor’s in Urban Planning followed by a Master’s in Urban Planning.
Read More: Career in Urban Planning in India
5. Environmental Pollution Management
Pollution is choking the people of India to an extent that it has already spread a host of health problems that can be toxic for human beings. To prevent such devastating effects of pollution and preventing pollution from taking place, Pollution Managers are required. Pollution Managers develop pollution control, pollution prevention, and recycling programs.
They coordinate all aspects of resource use, pollution prevention, waste management, environmental health, risk assessment, and employee involvement to carve a better and pollution-free future for us.
How to Become a Pollution Manager– MBA in Pollution Control Management or M.Sc. in Pollution and Environmental Control makes you eligible for becoming a Pollution Manager.
6. Environmental Lawyer
Legal issues related to the environment are dealt with by Environmental Lawyers. Such lawyers aid organisations, companies, individuals and the government to resolve environmental issues. They deal with issues revolving around water and air quality, hazardous waste, species protection, agriculture, wetlands, biodiversity, waste management, green initiatives, sustainability strategies and alternative energy sources.
They often work with the National Green Tribunal, which is a government body dealing with cases related to environmental protection, conservation of
How to Become an Environmental Lawyer- You need to clear CLAT (Common Law Admission Test) to be eligible for a Bachelor of Law (LLB). After LLB, pursuing a Master’s of Environmental Law will help you become an Environmental Lawyer.
Read More: Law as a Career in India
7. Environmental Scientist
Environmental Scientists intertwine their knowledge of Physics, Chemistry and Biology to work towards understanding environmental problems. They work in the laboratory and the field to study the degradation of the environment caused by human activities and develop measures to build a sustainable environment. They find the causes of environmental degradation, come up with corrective measures and create conservation programmes.
An Environmental Scientist may be employed by the Department of Environmental Affairs, the provisional departments of Nature Conservation, the National Parks Board, amongst others.
How to Become an Environmental Scientist- B.Sc. or B.E. in Environmental Science or a related field in Biology or Life Sciences, followed by an M.Sc. in Environmental Science.
Read More: Environmental Science as a Career in India
We won’t have a society if we destroy the environment and thus we need people to help revive the environment and rekindle its magic. So don’t hesitate to pursue an environment-friendly career because you exist only if the environment sustains!
So which of these careers excites you the most? Share with us in the comments!
