ETH Zurich
Zürich, Switzerland
QS =8Merit scholarships
Computer Science MSc · Data Science MSc · Robotics MSc
- Tuition
- Low tuition — est. a few thousand CHF per year; living costs are high
- Deadline
- Typically November–December for autumn entry
All careers
Environment
Sustainability / Climate Specialist
Helps organisations cut emissions, use resources wisely and adapt to climate change.
What this career is
Sustainability specialists measure environmental impact, design improvement plans and report progress — in companies, governments, banks and NGOs.
What professionals do
- Measure carbon and resource use
- Analyse data and write reports
- Design and run sustainability projects
- Work with policy and finance teams
Outlook: Growing quickly as climate rules and green finance expand; water and energy expertise is valued in Central Asia.
Official occupation data
- Sustainability Specialists$83,050
- Chief Sustainability Officers$213,990
- Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health$82,220
- Environmental Engineers$107,110
Tasks, skills, US pay and job growth from O*NET and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Key skills
Research methods
analyticalNeeded for academic research, policy analysis and evidence-driven roles in any sector.
Start with
- · Learn qualitative and quantitative designs
- · Replicate a published study with open data
Data visualization
analyticalAnalysts are judged on how clearly they communicate findings, not just on the analysis itself.
Start with
- · Learn when to use bar, line and scatter charts
- · Build a one-page dashboard
Project management
leadershipEvery consulting, product and operations role involves running projects.
Start with
- · Plan your applications as a project with milestones
- · Learn basic agile practices
Statistics
analyticalStatistics helps you avoid misleading conclusions and is required for data, economics and research roles.
Start with
- · Cover descriptive statistics, distributions and hypothesis tests
- · Run a simple A/B test analysis
Education paths
- 1Bachelor's in environmental science, engineering or economics
- 2Master's in sustainability or climate policy
- 3ESG and carbon accounting courses
Universities strong in Environment & Sustainability
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY, United States
QS =16Limited need-based aid
Computer Science · Nolan School of Hotel Administration · Industrial & Labor Relations
- Tuition
- Est. above $65,000 per year before aid
- Deadline
- Typically 1 November
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA, United States
QS =20Limited aid
Electrical Engineering & Computer Sciences · Data Science · Haas Business Administration
- Tuition
- Est. above $50,000 per year for non-residents
- Deadline
- Typically 30 November for the following autumn
Typical entry-level roles
Sustainability AnalystESG AnalystClimate Project Officer
Build your profile
Recommended extracurriculars
- · Environmental clubs and projects
- · The Earth Prize
- · Volunteering with environmental NGOs
Recommended competitions
PrizesOnline
- Location
- Online
- Deadline
- Typically autumn to winter
Recommended internships & programmes
PaidIn person
- Location
- Rome and country offices
- Deadline
- Throughout the year
PaidIn person
- Location
- UNDP offices worldwide
- Deadline
- Postings open year-round
Scholarships & fellowships
Funding variesHybrid
- Location
- Projects worldwide
- Deadline
- Several cycles per year