New Delhi based research and advocacy think tank Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) last year released its yearly due State of India’s Environment report where it focused on some of the weighted environment and development topics ranging from climate change, agriculture and air pollution to sanitation, water management, environmental governance and human wildlife disturbances.

With growing concerns for the environment, youth of today are taking up careers related to environment protection. Also, it is a great time to move ahead in this career field as in India experts have estimated 8000 – 10000 green jobs opened in the last decade.

As Dalai Lama said “It is our collective and individual responsibility to preserve and tend to the world in which we all live”, which shows the greater task of bettering the earth conditions.

Multiple career choices are there in the environment sector. In this article we are going to discuss some of the top career choices from them –

1. Environmental Engineer

Environmental engineers are there to trim down the adverse and hazardous effects of waste and pollution on the environment. By applying scientific methods of biology, chemistry and soil science, environmental engineers produce machines to control pollution and contamination caused to the environment. Some of the systems are recycling in nature involving eco-friendly practices. Core skills required to study environmental engineering are critical thinking, active learning, complex problem solving ability and time management.

2. Solar Engineer

Central government has set a target to initiate at least 10,000 solar wind and biomass based power projects in the next years. This means there would be need of solar engineers to ideate, craft and formulate power projects. Individuals would be needed in managing large scale projects to individual homes. Students with strong mathematical skills, computer expertise, and knowledge over physics (electricity, thermal transfer and power storage) are better performers for this job role. Having a degree in mechanical or electrical engineering is a career booster for this work profile.

3. Wind Energy Engineer

From locating the best place for installing wind turbines to testing wind turbine models or providing inputs to turbine manufacturers, a wind energy engineer works on perfecting the effectiveness of wind turbine. The core skills required to work in wind energy engineering are data analysis, IT skills, complex problem solving and critical thinking aptitude. Degree in relevant engineering would serve the best.

4. Wildlife Conservation and Indian Forest Services (IFS)

Wildlife has been affected the most. Species have become endangered and are on the verge of becoming extinct. There’s a need to preserve the endangered species in order to maintain the ecological balance of the earth. For doing this wildlife conservationists are hired who work at wildlife habitats like rain forests, oceans, and grasslands. They have variable duties like observing and conferring soil and water nature, preventing wildfires, taking measures in favor of wildlife to protect them from becoming extinct. In India an IFS officer’s work can be related to this who implements the National Forest Policy to make sure that environmental stability is maintained. Students after completing bachelor’s degree with at least studying one of the subjects – Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, Botany, Chemistry, Geology, Mathematics, Physics, Statistics and Zoology, Agriculture, Forestry or Engineering from a recognized university are eligible to sit for Indian Forest Service Examination. It is conducted by UPSC board on annual basis.

5. Wildlife Conservationist

Similar to the work of an IFS officer, a wildlife conservationist works with governments and NGOs in order to protect wildlife from any sorts of destruction. The job is suited for people who like to spend life outside the city pollution in wildlife. A degree in Wildlife Conservation and Biology is the perfect combination for this.

6. Hydrologist

Voices are rising in favor of river protection. Professionals are required for protecting water bodies from pollution or scarcity. Job of a hydrologist is just the same. A hydrologist study water paths and solve problems of water environment – its quality and quantity. Students with degrees in natural sciences are the ones mostly taking up the job of a hydrologist. As an added advantage, a hydrologist gets the opportunity to travel new places and unchartered ecosystems for studying water bodies and waters of different places.

7. Environment Journalist

It is the ideal job for a student who wants to protect environment and is also willing to build a career in writing. As an environment journalist, professionals are needed to work at odd hours in different places. Travelling is the glued part of this job for collecting interesting stories and maintaining connection with the environment. Core skills include writing skills, news writing, staying updated on environment acts and news, and communication.