Climate Change Analyst

Does the concept of climate change interest you? Do you often wonder how the world will be affected by climate change? If so, a career as a climate change analyst is a perfect choice for you. A climate change analyst must have a concerned interest in studying the biological, physical and socio-cultural effects of climate change.

This career is for people who are able to organize and read through large amount of data, and who have meticulous attention to detail while reading. This career path is also for people with fantastic communication skills and outstanding interpersonal skills.

A climate change analyst has to evaluate scientific data and conduct research about the climate, and then make inferences to link the collected data to the world around him or her. The kind of information collected may include that related to glaciers, ocean temperatures, atmospheric temperature and greenhouse gas emission levels, amongst a lot of other scientific data.

There are two career paths that a climate change analyst can take, but neither can be completely excluded. You can think of your preferred path as a major, and the less preferred one as a minor. One route is the scientific approach, which involves collecting and analyzing raw data, while the other is the political approach, which involves creating law and policy.

The scientific aspect is preferred by those who wish to deal with complicated data, and constructing mathematical and physical models of climatic expectations. You would be required to create charts, statistical graphs, reports from complex data so that those who are not as well trained as you in the matter would be able to understand them.

Meanwhile, the political aspect still involves interacting with scientific information, but not as such raw data. You are often required to study the charts, statistical graphs and reports which those climate analysts who deal with the raw data, and present them to the public, or the policy makers, making relevant links between the data and its consequences.

Different people would feel the need to go for different paths, depending on their personal inclinations and interests. Both work side by side, and are equally essential in terms of positions.

If one wishes to work as a climate change analyst, they must have a bachelor’s degree in a scientific discipline. Many employers may require that applicants have a bachelor’s degree in environmental science, with focus on climate or environment studies, while some may only hire those with master’s degree. PhDs in environmental sciences is recommended, but not necessary.

In USA, statistics presented by the Department of Labor suggest that climate change analysts make anywhere between US$46,000 and US$82,000, with an average salary of US$61,000. The wide discrepancy between the lowest and highest salary in that rage is because of a number of factors.

Most importantly, the experience of the analyst can make a big difference. Salaries increase progressively in this field, and the longer you work as a climate change analyst, the more you are likely to be paid. Moreover, it makes a big difference which entity you end up working for. Policymakers and government institutions might pay a lot less than news agencies.

Life as a

climate change analyst

involves staying indoors most of the time. It is primarily a desk job, but it may vary depending on what path an individual chooses. The scientific approach, admittedly very rarely, enables professionals to go to places such as Alaska to study changing climatic conditions.

Whereas those who opt for the policy or public education paths of this career also have to work desk jobs, normally 40 business hours per week, they often have to work overtime and on weekends, delivering lectures to students and creating awareness about issues related to climate change. Moreover, they may be required to give speeches and interviews on the media, making sense of the information collected by their scientific counterparts.

However, for the most part, a

climate change analyst

would be expected to work the typical 40 hour a week desk job in a formal office environment.

There are a number of advantages of becoming a climate change analyst. For many people, climate change and environmental protection are issues of immense personal importance, and there is this sense of satisfaction when working to save the environment.

Moreover, there is considerable job stability in the market because of a lack of competition. The salary is fairly decent, and one enjoys exposure to a lot of contacts. One may enjoy benefits such as health insurance and financing packages.

Climate change analysts enjoy the respect of concerned citizens among the general public. They are generally appreciated for whatever work they do, and many receive awards from many governmental and non-governmental organizations.

Life as a climate change analyst can often become tedious. You need to pay meticulous attention to detail while sitting in an office environment for forty hours a week. It is common to get frustrated seeing that your findings are not being taken seriously by the people around you, in particular the politicians and industrialists.

Additionally, one may be required to work over time for little or no compensation. This may involve dealing with the public, or giving speeches and lectures to students and policymakers.

With an increased interest in climate change and its effects globally, the demand for climate change analysts has skyrocketed over the past decade, and it is expected to grow at a more than healthy rate over the next twenty years. Statistics show that vacancies in the career are expected to grow at an average of 3.7% per annum.

One need not worry about competition when it comes to becoming a climate change analyst, because even now, people do not take it seriously as a career. The scope is ever increasing, and finding employment in this field would be much easier than most others.

There is a demand for climate change analysts all over the world, particularly in urban areas in the developed world. Any area where the international news media is based, there is a demand for climate change analysts. Metropolitans in the United States, European Union and Asia Pacific region seem to have the most opportunities for climate change analysts.