Justin Taberham - Global Environmental Careers

There are significant issues within the green sector in terms of mental health. The transition to a greener economy inevitably involves change and this in return can increase the prevalence of mental health issues within workers in the economy as well as the general public.

The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, in its (2013) report ‘Green jobs and occupational safety and health: Foresight on new and emerging risks associated with new technologies by 2020’ highlighted some key issues developing from increasing uncertainty in a changing economy:

Economic growth concerns around the availability of funding for green initiatives

Green values and the willingness (or not) of the public to change

Challenges with innovation and new technologies

The report summarised:

During this work, it became apparent that many of the current assumptions about future green jobs are based on an optimistic outcome, a Win‐Win scenario. But the possibility that these targets are not met should be taken into account.

As diverse as green jobs may be, a number of common challenges were highlighted:

Decentralised work processes: as workplaces are getting more dispersed and more difficult to reach, monitoring and enforcement of good OSH [occupational safety and health] conditions and safe working practices is likely to become more challenging

A growing use of subcontracted work, as well as an increase in self‐employment, micro and small enterprises: such structures may have less awareness of OSH and a less‐developed culture of OSH, as well as fewer resources available for OSH and less access to OSH services

New skills and the need for adequate worker training: there are many new green technologies and working processes where specific knowledge is needed but has not yet been fully developed; there are also (new combinations of) ‘old’ risks but found in new situations equally requiring new (combinations of) specific skills; the job opportunities in green jobs may attract new entrants extending beyond their original skills areas and unaware of these new challenges

Skill shortages and polarisation of the workforce, with low‐skilled workers pushed to accept poorer working conditions and more difficult jobs

Increased automation, which may improve OSH but also bring human‐machine interface issues as well as issues of over‐reliance on the technology

Conflicts between green objectives and OSH, with the risk of OSH being overlooked

Novel, difficult‐to‐characterise and potentially hazardous materials that will need to be closely monitored over their entire life cycle for potential (unknown, long‐latency) health hazards: this will be increasingly challenging as no one stays in the same job for life, making it difficult to link health effects to occupational exposure.

Some areas of work within the green sector have high levels of stress and confrontation. These including International Development work and Political Lobbying. In addition, there is considerable pressure in committing yourself to a career that aims to make a difference in the world and the potential stress when you review whether you have achieved as much as you wanted.

A green career can be a life‐defining experience, and working in an environmental job can be hugely rewarding – often you can be directly improving your local environment to the benefit of current and future generations.

However, you need to have a reality check before deciding that a green career is your aim. Issues of intense competition for work experience, let alone for low paid jobs, and the challenge that in some roles you may feel that you are not making ‘enough’ change to the world may weigh on you.

There are many ‘catch all’ and more focused sites and resources that cover more than one sector. In recent years, the growth of online content websites like YouTube and social media platforms including Facebook have enriched the information available to job seekers.

Developing websites is not cheap and content is relatively inflexible, whereas on social media platforms you can form groups and add content easily. Consequently, many areas that are under‐represented on websites are well covered on other social media such as Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube – issues such as local green work, events, global case studies, small projects and very focused topics. Another highlight is that you can more easily engage with other green professionals using social media.

There is also a significant growth of events, mentoring, interviewing, virtual networking and interaction using low‐cost videoconferencing platforms and social media. This helps to make communications more efficient and global.

There is a growing number of jobs websites and specialised recruitment agencies that focus on green careers.

Some of these resources are listed below, but please note that this is a very small selection of the content which may be helpful in your career development.

All International Environmental Sciences Jobs and News

www.facebook.com/groups/1513496342234562

Environmental Career Experts

www.facebook.com/EnvironmentalCareerExperts

Environmental Career Opportunities

www.facebook.com/ecojobsource

Environmental Education Career Network

www.facebook.com/groups/1625744117557119

Environmentalists in Pakistan!

www.facebook.com/groups/environmentalists.pak

Environmental Job Board & Forum

www.facebook.com/groups/envjob

Environmental Job Opportunites SEA: Internships/Volunteers/Learning

www.facebook.com/groups/130704717461155

Environmental Jobs

www.facebook.com/EnvironmentalJobsUK

EnvironmentalJobs.com

www.facebook.com/EnvironmentalJobs

Environmental Jobs Network

www.facebook.com/EnvironmentalJN

Environmental Jobs and Free Career Resources

www.facebook.com/groups/1297214433774855

Environmental Management university group

www.facebook.com/groups/201806079916217

Environmental Professionals

www.facebook.com/groups/412035932889946

Environment Jobs – Bulletin Board

www.facebook.com/groups/envjobs/

Green Careers DC

www.facebook.com/groups/223689644750214

Green Careers in India

www.facebook.com/groups/419579064751703

Green Jobs (UK)

www.facebook.com/GreenJobsUK

Greenjobs (USA)

www.facebook.com/greenjobscom

Greenjobs (Netherlands)

www.facebook.com/greenjobs.international

Green Jobs Network

www.facebook.com/groups/greencareers

Open – Wildlife and Fisheries Job Board

www.facebook.com/groups/791215834226997

Sustainable Agriculture Jobs, Internships and Apprenticeships

www.facebook.com/groups/SustainableAgJobs

Wildlife Science Career Network

www.facebook.com/groups/457674185029274

Wildlife Workers’ Network

www.facebook.com/groups/wildwork

Australia Green Jobs & Career Network

Conservation Jobs – Careers & Talent Network

Environmental Careers Network

Environmental jobs, conservation jobs, green jobs, energy jobs, sustainable development, GoodWork.ca

Green Jobs & Career Network

Jobs in Nonprofits

Sustainability Career Group

Green Career Path

Countdown – a global initiative to accelerate solutions to the climate crisis

www.ted.com/series/countdown

14 Exciting Environmental Careers that Make a Difference