2 years ago, working in global health, I was struggling to find a way to transition my career to climate change.
Since then, I've worked on 10+ climate projects with NGOs and startups. For people looking to break into #climate - here are some strategies that helped me. 👇👇
Since then, I've worked on 10+ climate projects with NGOs and startups. For people looking to break into #climate - here are some strategies that helped me. 👇👇
1/ Figure out your "why".
Yes, climate change is a big, hairy problem. But it's important to understand what about it is personal / significant to you. For 10 years I lived + worked where people will experience CC's worst effects, and I want to work on addressing that injustice.
Yes, climate change is a big, hairy problem. But it's important to understand what about it is personal / significant to you. For 10 years I lived + worked where people will experience CC's worst effects, and I want to work on addressing that injustice.
2/ Listen and learn.
Don't talk. Listen to climate scientists, activists, and entrepreneurs. Honor their contribution by learning from their experiences + reading their work.
Start here: @GretaThunberg @KenCaldeira @CarbonWrangler @KHayhoe @DrKWilkinson @hausfath @JigarShahDC
Don't talk. Listen to climate scientists, activists, and entrepreneurs. Honor their contribution by learning from their experiences + reading their work.
Start here: @GretaThunberg @KenCaldeira @CarbonWrangler @KHayhoe @DrKWilkinson @hausfath @JigarShahDC
3/ Find your niche.
Climate change is a vast space. It could mean #renewables, #EVs , food waste, adaptation, #carbonremoval. Find a niche that gets you excited from the learning you did in step 2, and aligns with your "why" in step 1.
Climate change is a vast space. It could mean #renewables, #EVs , food waste, adaptation, #carbonremoval. Find a niche that gets you excited from the learning you did in step 2, and aligns with your "why" in step 1.
4/ Plug into a community.
Find a community aligned with your interest area to connect with like-minded enthusiasts and experts. Talk to anyone who will give you 30 mins. Share your interests. Ask questions. @mcjpod is a good place to start. For me, it was @openaircollect.
Find a community aligned with your interest area to connect with like-minded enthusiasts and experts. Talk to anyone who will give you 30 mins. Share your interests. Ask questions. @mcjpod is a good place to start. For me, it was @openaircollect.
5/ Identify parallels with your old job.
Thought exercise: What soft and hard skills did you develop in your previous career? Which feel relevant to climate? Which can be adapted? Which are not relevant at all?
Take stock of this now so that you're ready to get to work sooner.
Thought exercise: What soft and hard skills did you develop in your previous career? Which feel relevant to climate? Which can be adapted? Which are not relevant at all?
Take stock of this now so that you're ready to get to work sooner.
6/ Find side projects.
Don't quit your day job. Yet.
In convos with people working on climate, ask: What problem/project would you work on if you had more time?
Then volunteer a few hours a week to help them. Find out what you like doing. For me, it turned into paid work.
Don't quit your day job. Yet.
In convos with people working on climate, ask: What problem/project would you work on if you had more time?
Then volunteer a few hours a week to help them. Find out what you like doing. For me, it turned into paid work.
7/ Cultivate a point of view.
Notice this isn't step 1? Take stock of what you've learned from steps 2 - 6, generate your own opinions, and keep revising them.
I started out bullish on nature-based offsets to spur carbon removal, then I changed my tune: carboncurve.substack.com/p/offsets
Notice this isn't step 1? Take stock of what you've learned from steps 2 - 6, generate your own opinions, and keep revising them.
I started out bullish on nature-based offsets to spur carbon removal, then I changed my tune: carboncurve.substack.com/p/offsets
8/ Start writing.
As you start generating your own ideas, you'll need to keep them organized. Writing helps you do that. Don't keep your learning journey to yourself. Put it out in the world and get feedback! I started The Carbon Curve to do just that. carboncurve.substack.com
As you start generating your own ideas, you'll need to keep them organized. Writing helps you do that. Don't keep your learning journey to yourself. Put it out in the world and get feedback! I started The Carbon Curve to do just that. carboncurve.substack.com
9/ Revisit your "why".
What has changed since you thought about your "why"? Has it sustained your interest in working on climate change? If you've found work in the space, is it aligned with your "why"? Where do you need to focus? Where do you need to course-correct?
What has changed since you thought about your "why"? Has it sustained your interest in working on climate change? If you've found work in the space, is it aligned with your "why"? Where do you need to focus? Where do you need to course-correct?
10/ Thank your supporters.
From employers that gave you early skills, to friends that listened to you drone on about climate, to partners that supported your career shift (for me, it was my wife - thanks!), make sure to thank those that help you traverse this arduous journey!
From employers that gave you early skills, to friends that listened to you drone on about climate, to partners that supported your career shift (for me, it was my wife - thanks!), make sure to thank those that help you traverse this arduous journey!
That's it! If you found any of these strategies useful, please retweet them!
If you've recently begun working on climate, pls share your wisdom + experience in the comments.
And if you'd like my insights on carbon removal, subscribe to my newsletter! carboncurve.substack.com
If you've recently begun working on climate, pls share your wisdom + experience in the comments.
And if you'd like my insights on carbon removal, subscribe to my newsletter! carboncurve.substack.com
P.S. Be sure to check out:
• Jobs: @workonclimate @Climatebase @climatecareers • Incubators: @activatefellows @Third_Deriv
• Communities: @airminers @openaircollect @mcjpod
• Jobs: @workonclimate @Climatebase @climatecareers • Incubators: @activatefellows @Third_Deriv
• Communities: @airminers @openaircollect @mcjpod
• • •
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