Green, Eco and Conservation Careers: Working to Save the Environment

Sustainability. Green. Environmental. Ecological. Conservation. Anyway you slice it these are the words that describe our attempt to put an end to global warming, the greenhouse effect, atmospheric pollution, ecosystem decay, and other environmental issues that impact our ability to continue life on this planet.

So what better way to help perpetuate all living things then by pursuing a career that not only brings fulfillment and enjoyment to you, but brings purpose and help to our own way of life.

Whether you call them green careers or eco jobs, it all comes down to helping the environment. And the best way for you to start yourself on the road to a career in conservation is by getting an education in one of the several areas of sustainability study that is now available at many college campuses around the world.

Begin by deciding exactly what course of study most suits your abilities and interests. There are probably two dozen areas where environmental issues require trained professionals, so you have quite a few options to choose from including global climate change, green architecture, ecotourism, alternative energy and even environmental justice.

Next select the right degree and best institution to provide it. There is a wide range of options to choose from including primary degrees with subspecialties, like an undergraduate degree in society and environment from the University of California, Berkeley; a master's degree in construction management with a sustainability emphasis available from the University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; or even postgraduate courses in earth, environment, and engineering; power, society and environment; and sustainability of the built environment offered at the University of Brighton in England.

There are even specialty schools geared specifically toward environmental and sustainability education such as the Sustainability Institute in South Africa, where you can be awarded a masters degree in sustainability planning and management or the Institute for Sustainable Living and Enterprise (I.S.L.E.) located in Fairfield, Iowa, where all the undergraduate and graduate degrees focus on ecology and sustainability.

Once armed with an undergraduate or graduate degree, it is time to apply your knowledge. Gaining training and work experience through internship, mentoring and fellowship programs can provide a wonderful opportunity to put book learning to work. For further information on these types of programs consider The Environmental Leadership Program (ELP) in Boston or the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ( EPA) which coordinates several programs including the National Network for Environmental Management Studies (NNEMS).

Finally, now that you have completed this foundational work on your career, you may want to integrate your environmental skills into a corporate job. According to GreenBiz.com's environmental job guide, "Good, Green Jobs" while traditional environmental jobs are fading, a new kind of blended career - a mix of traditional operations and environmental thinking - has emerged.

One such blending recently occurred at Community Bank in Oakland, California when they hired a green loan officer to review loans of organizations who want to either start or enhance existing sustainable business practices. But that's just one job. Take a look at the Internet (google environmental careers) and you'll see all the websites with job postings that cater to the ecologically minded. Here's just a sampling: www.ecojobs.com, enviromentalcareer.com, and www.greenbiz.com/jobs/.

So no matter what your education and career choice, bringing together a passion for helping and a love of the environment can help you to find an interesting, challenging and ultimately fulfilling career.