ENVIROMENTAL CAREER

WHAT IS ENVIROMENTAL CAREERS?

A green job, also called a green-collar job is, according to
the United Nations Environment Program, "work in agricultural,
manufacturing, research and development (R&D), administrative,
and service activities that contribute(s) substantially to preserving
or restoring environmental quality. Specifically, but not
exclusively, this includes jobs that help to protect ecosystems and
biodiversity; reduce energy, materials, and water consumption
through high efficiency strategies; de-carbonize the economy; and
minimize or altogether avoid generation of all forms of waste and
pollution."
Job Description
Protecting the environment is an environmental scientist's goal when he or
she goes to work each day. To achieving that goal he or she conducts
research in order to identify, decrease the harmful effects of, or eliminate
pollutants and hazards to the environment or to the health of the
population.

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Net jobs
A 2004 study by the Renewable and Appropriate Energy Laboratory
(RAEL) at UC Berkeley reported that the renewable energy sector
generates more jobs than the fossil fuel-based energy sector per unit of
energy delivered (i.e., per average megawatt) across a broad range of
scenarios.[2] Contrarily, a report by Gabriel Calzada Alvarez analyzing the
impact of an eleven-year Green energy project in Spain concluded that the
U.S. should expect a loss of at least 2.2 jobs on average for each "green
job" created, or about 9 jobs lost for every 4 created, in addition to those
jobs that non-subsidized investments with the same resources would have
created.[3][4] A rebuttal to the Spanish study by the National Renewable
Energy Laboratory (NREL) presented numerous allegations of
methodological flaws in the Spanish study, citing outdated data, nonstandard measures of job creation, and a lack of accompanying statistical
analysis among the limitations of the study.[5]
In 2010, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) received funding to
analyze data about green jobs. The goal of this initiative is to [map] "(1) the
number of and trend over time in green jobs, (2) the industrial,
occupational, and geographic distribution of the jobs, and (3) the wages of
the workers in these jobs."[6]
In September 2010, the BLS published its final definition of green jobs in
the Federal Register,[7] organizing them in 2 types: A) Jobs in businesses
that produce goods and provide services that benefit the environment or
conserve natural resources. Type A) green jobs are further divided in 5
categories. B) Jobs in which workers' duties involve making their
establishment's production processes more environmentally friendly or use
fewer natural resources. Type B) jobs are further divided in 4 categories.

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Employment Facts
There were 90,000 environmental scientists employed in 2012. Most work for state
governments and consulting firms. Local governments also employ many of them.
Some work for the Federal government.
Environmental scientists typically work in offices and laboratories but may have to
spend some time doing fieldwork. Most positions are full time. While doing fieldwork,
which involves gathering data and checking conditions, their hours may be irregular.

Green Jobs Initiative

In 2007 the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP),
the International Labor Organization (ILO), and the International
Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) jointly launched the Green
Jobs Initiative. The International Employers Organization (IEO) .

Green Jobs and Workforce Education

The National Council for Workforce Education and AED published a
report, Going Green: Going Green: The Vital Role of Community
Colleges in Building a Sustainable Future and a Green Workforce[dead
link]
that examines how workforce education and community colleges
contribute to the overall efforts in the move toward renewable and
clean energy. The report gives examples of initiatives currently in

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effect nationally as well as offering information as to how to
implement programs.
In response to high unemployment and a distressed economy
workers need skills that are relevant to their specific geographical
locations. "Instead of making green jobs we need to make jobs green"
says Ken Warden, an administrator in workforce education.

USA Green Jobs Act 2001

The Green Jobs Act of 2007 (H.R. 2847), introduced by Reps. Hilda
Solis (D-CA) and John Tierney (D-MA), "authorized up to $125 million
in funding to establish national and state job training programs,
administered by the U.S. Department of Labor, to help address job
shortages that are impairing growth in green industries, such as
energy efficient buildings and construction, renewable electric power,
energy efficient vehicles, and biofuels development." [8] The Energy
Independence and Security Act passed in December 2007
incorporates the Green Jobs Act of 2007.
Additionally, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA),
passed in early 2009, includes provisions for new jobs in industries
such as energy, utilities, construction, and manufacturing with a
focus toward energy efficiency and more environmentally-friendly
practices.[9][10]
In March 2009, U.S. President Barack Obama appointed Van
Jones as Special Advisor for Green Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation at
the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ). Following
Jones' resignation in September 2009, no further candidates appear to
have been appointed to this position.

Pathways out of Poverty

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Pathways out of Poverty (POP) is a national workforce training program

that was established on August 14, 2009 by the Obama
administration and funded by the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. POP targets individuals living
below or near the poverty level to provide them with skills needed to
enter the green job market, focusing on the energy efficiency and
renewable energy industries. The training programs focus on
teaching basic literacy and job readiness skills. Some of the
programs also provide supportive assistance with childcare and
transportation to overcome barriers to employment.

Educational Requirements
Although it's possible to get an entry-level job as an environmental
scientist with a bachelor's degree in earth science, many employers
will hire only those who have earned a master's degree in
environmental science, hydrology or a related natural science.
Why Do You Need to Know About Educational Requirements?

Other Requirements
In addition to the technical skills one learns in school, an
environmental scientist also needs certain soft skills, or personal
qualities, to succeed in this field. Good communication skills, including
speaking, listening and writing abilities, are important because he or
she will have to share research findings with colleagues. An
environmental scientist will need good critical thinking skills in order to
weigh possible solutions to problems in order to pick the one which is
most likely to be successful.
Advancement Opportunities

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An environmental scientist begins his or her work in field exploration
or sometimes in the laboratory as a technician or research assistant.
With experience, he or she gets more difficult assignments and may
eventually move into a supervisory role.

Job Outlook

The job outlook for environment scientists is excellent. The US Bureau

of Labor Statistics predicts employment growth that is faster than the
average for all occupations through 2022.

Earnings
Environmental scientists earned a median annual salary of $63,570
and median hourly earnings of $30.56 in 2012.
Use the Salary Wizard at Salary.com to find out how much an
environmental scientist currently earns in your city.
A Day in an Environmental Scientist's Life:
These are some typical job duties taken from online ads for
environmental scientist positions found on Indeed.com:

Conduct field work under the direction of a senior scientist to

investigate the nature and extent of soil, sediment, groundwater
and other media contamination.

Observe and log soil explorations via soil boring equipment,

Geoprobe and test pit excavations.

Evaluate and apply local, state and federal air regulations to

determine requirements for permit modifications.

Perform program research, planning and development,

permitting, compliance monitoring, inspections/enforcement,

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and technical support services in relation to air, water, waste,
federal facilities, corrective action, mining, biology, and other
environmental programs.

Manage budgets, evaluate budget vs. plan, and analyze cost

control efficiencies.

Write reports, develop plans, and implement steps to move

projects toward closure in the most cost effective manner.

Utilize communications skills to interact with both internal and

external clients.
Sources:
Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Department of Labor, Occupational
Outlook Handbook, 2014-15 Edition, Environmental Scientist, on the
Internet at http://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-socialscience/environmental-scientists-and-specialists.htm (visited April 4,
2014).
Employment and Training Administration, US Department of
Labor, O*NET Online,Environmental Scientist, on the Internet
at http://online.onetcenter.org/link/details/19-2041.00 (visited April 4,
2014)

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