Environmental lawyers protect the existing laws of the planet. They fight for the protection of fundamental environmental resources such as air, water, and land by making sure that polluters pay for the damage they cause. For example, they have won cases for communities where illegal dumping was taking place. If you are curious to see how it all works, check out this story from Earthjustice. The impact of law on nature is astonishing, but it is equally astonishing how lawmakers are drafting new policies that encourage the harvesting of renewable resources and protection of the environment. The matters they attend to are beneficial not only for the world but also for upcoming generations.
Sustainability and environmental justice advocates must have knowledge of environmental law, policy analysis, and regulatory compliance. Knowledge of climate laws, corporate sustainability, and impact research, combined with outstanding research and litigation skills, is mandatory. Since a lot of these issues deal with government policy and big business, negotiation and speaking abilities are also important. With the implementation of stricter environmental policies, the competition within this specific field of law is constantly growing leading to an increase in salary.
The projection for growth in this position remains positive due to more government and corporate spending towards meeting environmental standards. The spending on climate litigation is on the rise, with over 2,500 environmental lawsuits filed across the globe by 2024. This is likely to change with the advancement of carbon markets, clean energy initiatives, and corporate ESGs increasing the attention given to environmental law resulting in hiring more legal professionals who specialize in it.
In the US, the largest employers are Earthjustice, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Baker McKenzie. In India, the TERI, National Green Tribunal and Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas and Co. have recently joined the fray as these regions are opened up. ClientEarth, Allen and Overy, and the European Commission have increased business in the UK and rest of Europe. As sustainability law tightens, people practicing in these regions will help shape the law internationally.
Assesses financial viability of renewable energy projects, helping investors make informed decisions.
Advises businesses & organizations on reducing waste and going green, earning $70,000−$150,000 (€55K-€110K).
Uses Artificial intelligence to optimize energy grids, reduce outages, and earns $80,000−$150,000 (€60K-€110K).
Uses AI to optimize renewable energy systems, improving efficiency and predicting energy generation.
Innovates and scales technologies to address climate change, from carbon capture to renewable energy.
Develops hydrogen-based energy systems for clean fuel production and storage.