Climate Risk Assessment & Adaptation Jobs

Careers in Climate Risk Assessment & Adaptation

1. What Do Climate Risk Assessment & Adaptation Professionals Do?

The severity of weather changes, rising sea levels, and drought lastingly impacts how climate risk assessment and adaptation professionals plan for the future. To better prepare for the consequences, they develop effective approaches that can deal with the risks. In their line of work, these professionals interact with various government departments, private businesses, and non-profit organizations to analyze their most local vulnerable populations and industries. Using climate scenarios, expert systems, and quantitative data, these professionals attribute the impact of global warming to various regions of the world.

This work contributes to the resilience of urban settlements, industrial activities, and ecosystems to climate shocks enhances the resilience of critical infrastructure and people.

2. Why Is Climate Risk Assessment & Adaptation Crucial for the Future?

‍In a world of climate change, it’s no doubt that effects are getting stronger and going wide, as noted by IPCC:

Temperature is projected to rise above 1.5 degrees Celsius in the decades to come, and the repercussions, one of which involves food sources and resources in the water and coastal regions, are dire.

Given this, it must be recognized that climate change risk assessments and adaptation strategy experts have a key role to play when it comes to saving lives, economies, and ecosystems.

Their response ensures that business entities and governments accept the climate reality; and mitigate impacts by investing prudently thereby ensuring that they thrive decades to come.

3. What Skills Are Important for Success in Climate Risk Assessment & Adaptation Jobs?

These experts need a holistic combination of technical, scientific, and logical skills, some of which are:

• Climate Modeling: The capacity to utilize climate models for the prediction and evaluation of associated risks.
• Risk Assessment & Analysis: The capability of evaluating risks and providing relevant recommendations for mitigation.
• Policy Understanding: Knowledge of climate adaptation policies which includes, but is not limited to, the Paris Agreement scope.

Having a degree in environmental science or meteorology or urban planning is often helpful coupled with some basic understanding of climate change science and how to adapt to it.

Climate adaptation isn't optional - it's essential risk management for the 21st century. - Christiana Figueres, former Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change

4. What Is the Salary Range for Climate Risk Assessment & Adaptation Professionals?

Salaries for climate change risk assessment and adaptation professionals differ because of geography, skill level, and sector:

• USA: Average salaries for practitioners ranges from $60,000 to $120,000.  More senior roles as climate risk managers or director positions can earn in excess of $150,000.
• UK: Employment for climate adaptation practitioners ranges between £40,000 and £80,000, with higher remuneration for advanced positions within the field.

Websites like Payscale provide information about salaries for climate jobs.

5. Which Organizations Are Hiring for Climate Risk Assessment & Adaptation Jobs?

Some of the most sought after organizations in this sector include:

• The World Bank: In search of climate change specialists who would aid governments and corporations devise climate adaption plans.
• UN Environment Programe (UNEP): Providing positions for international climate adaptors and managers.
• S&P Global: Looking for specialists to evaluate climate threats and develop protective measures within the industry.

These organizations contribute to the world’s climate resilience efforts on a global scale and, as such, open these positions to support a growing sector.