Climate jobs surge as companies tackle environmental challenges
NEW YORK, UNITED STATES — Companies across various industries are expanding their workforce dedicated to addressing environmental challenges.
This trend not only reflects a growing commitment to sustainability but also correlates with better overall management practices, according to recent research by the Wall Street Journal.
Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL), a real-estate management firm, has doubled its climate-focused staff to about 900 employees in recent years, while also investing heavily in training its broader workforce of 100,000 on integrating sustainability into daily operations.
“The cost of inaction brings a lot more risk than the cost of action,” said Guy Grainger, the company’s global head of sustainability services.
Meanwhile, Contentsquare, a digital experience analytics company, mandates train travel for employee trips under four hours to reduce the company’s carbon footprint.
A study by Revelio Labs reveals that demand for jobs mentioning climate response or extreme weather has tripled since 2018.
Correlation between climate jobs and management
Research conducted by the Drucker Institute at Claremont Graduate University suggests a correlation between a company’s climate-related workforce and its overall management effectiveness.
The institute’s analysis, which forms the basis of the Management Top 250 ranking, found that companies with the highest proportion of climate-related jobs outperformed those with the lowest in key areas such as customer satisfaction, innovation, and social responsibility.
Trevor David, client solutions director at Sustainalytics, observes that institutional investors have begun using climate-related patents as “a proxy for good management.”
Mike Colarossi, head of enterprise sustainability at Avery Dennison, explains the dual nature of this relationship: “Well-managed companies are forward-looking. They see the opportunities and challenges that climate change brings.”
He adds that employee engagement in climate initiatives “drives innovation. That drives engagement. We start to see the flywheel take hold.”
Future trends in climate investment
The demand for climate-related jobs continues to grow. Honeywell, for example, generates 60% of its revenue from sustainability products.
Gavin Towler, Honeywell’s chief sustainability officer, highlights the significant investment in clean energy technology, projected to reach $2 trillion this year.
This focus not only supports the fight against climate change but also attracts employees motivated to make a positive impact.
In fact, a Deloitte research found that around 45% of Gen Z and millennial workers have already quit a job or plan to do so over climate concerns.
Additionally, 72% of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) leaders have decided not to proceed with a potential buy due to concerns about the target’s ESG performance.
