Find a job that saves the planet or helps its people

Many people want to make a difference in this world or, more accurately, for this world.

We have a planet that provides us with so much beauty, resources and sustenance and we take it all without appreciating or caring much for what the consequences of taking everything might be.

That is until we ended up with global warming, epidemics, species extinctions, endangered lists, pollution, damage to the ozone layer and overpopulation.

There is a cry out there for people to step in and make a difference on a larger scale than personal efforts of recycling at home, for example. Use your mind, talents, qualifications and passion to save the planet and its people to do something good for the world for once.

There are so many professions that can put you in a powerful position for change and improvement. Find a field you’re interested in, complete the necessary qualifications and start saving the world.

Conservation scientist  

If you love nature and wildlife and would prefer to see more green than concrete, you should consider becoming a conservation scientist. Your job will be to help national parks, forests and other conservation areas improve the use of the land without damaging the soil, water and natural order.

Your job will be to collect samples and analyse them to do what needs to be done to improve and maintain a high quality of the resources provided by those areas.

Environmental engineer

Similarly, an environmental engineer is also in the business of conserving the environment but usually in the context of advising government and companies on how their projects can be carried out with minimal negative effects to the environment.

Environmental engineers also head up recycling, air, water and waste pollution management, and public health programmes to encourage both the public and corporate institutions to implement safe environmental practices. They also use engineering, biology and chemistry to find solutions to environmental issues.

Agricultural and food scientist

If you love food and enjoy working in a laboratory with samples and statistics as your solution-finders, then consider becoming an agricultural or food scientist. Humans are reliant on our food sources and, these days, there are so many genetically modified versions of natural nutrients that our bodies crave.

As agricultural scientists, you will focus on crop and farm animals and how certain chemicals, growth methods and farming practices affect the food products we end up with. Food scientists are also invested in the initial phases of our food products, but also investigate into the food processing side of it all. Agriculture and food scientists are extremely valuable in the health and hunger of all the people in the world. Due to overpopulation and poverty, famine and world hunger are problems that still require achievable solutions and these are the type of people who can help in that regard.

Hydrologist

Water is a natural resource that both humans and the planet need to survive and thrive. Unfortunately, it is a limited resource that some parts of the world are struggling with. Hydrologists are the people who work with environmental engineers to study all the properties of the surface and underground water, as well as its availability and quality for use.

When we consider an event such as the Ebola outbreak in DRC in 2017, it’s with the insight from hydrologists that we learn the difference between clean and contaminated water and the dangers thereof. Communities like Itipo DRC are suffering from Ebola and cholera outbreaks because of a lack of access to clean water and a hydrologist has the knowledge to study the natural water situation of the area to come up with solutions.

Sustainability manager

For people who prefer to make a difference from a corporate body, there is a growing demand for sustainability managers in many large organisations. Sadly, the planet has reached a horrific point in its life where the growing consumption and waste from human’s daily “convenience” activities have started to show more than ever.

A prominent example would be the plastic ocean people have unintentionally created thanks to the convenience of single-use plastic items. As a sustainability manager, you’ll be in a position to advise companies on how their manufacturing, packaging and internal business practices are affecting the environment and what the alternative solutions are to a greener company and planet.

Volunteer your skills

For those who are happy with their career field but are open to new industries, consider volunteering your skills. Environmental, welfare and charitable non-profit organisations are always looking for extra hands and skills in almost all departments that can help grow their awareness and increase the difference they’re making.

Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) is a welfare organisation that goes to poverty-stricken communities (like Itipo in the Democratic Republic of Congo) to provide medical and welfare aid to those who are sick and suffering. It’s easy to click the “MSF donate” button on their website and make a monthly contribution, but what they really need are fellow medical practitioners, health carers and hands willing to be there and physically help out.

It won’t be difficult to find an NGO that needs a doctor, marketer, website designer, photographer, public speaker, teacher or operations manager. People might have played a role in the problems of this planet, but we also have the power to be the solutions.