Careers in Sustainable and Green Finance

Skill and knowledge in sustainable and green finance are not just beneficial during this big wave in the change of tide in the financial and industrial sectors, but something that you can continue to ride on sustainably as you evolve in your professional career.

The Huge Green Economy

During the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2021 Sustainable Development Impact Summit, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) estimated that the green economy alone could create 24 million jobs worldwide by 2030, as countries respond to new climate policies and commitments. The momentum in the hiring of talents for the green economy will continue to accelerate, as governments and businesses step up their commitments and initiatives to achieve climate and sustainability goals. With the growing need for greener roles, employers are increasingly in search of green talents and green skills, driven in part by the relatively low supply of talent.

Green jobs span across a wide range of industries, growing beyond the single “green industry” of the past. From the obvious developments in renewable energy to more unexpected sectors like finance, fashion technologies, and transportation industries, demand for green talents is already evident across all types of roles. Many of these jobs are highly specialised and are concentrated among traditional green careers, such as environmental scientists, sustainability managers or wildlife biologists.

However, there is also a growing trend of green roles among positions that are not traditionally considered “green”, e.g. the circular economy like sustainable fashion and pollution prevention, and in green finance where sustainable and impact investments are increasingly sought after and scrutinized by portfolio managers and investment analysts. Employers are recognising and rethinking the sort of skills and jobs that contribute to a zero-carbon, clean economy, including a range of jobs that are not traditionally thought of as green. These jobs and roles will have a major impact on whether economies meet their climate goals.