Sustainability & ESG

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To those who have DC who work in this field what did they study at university? Is it usually a geography/environment degree?

Obviously sustainability and ESG is a broad term, what do your DC do specifically? Do they enjoy it?

I have a DD who is doing maths, economics, geography and physics and is passionate about making a positive difference for the planet.

Im a sustainability manager but old (40s) so didn’t choose my degree based on this. However my degree is geography. But it has become more competitive now. I’d say they really need to look at what they want to do, as you say sustainability is a wide subject. If they want to strategic sustainability then doesn’t have to be too specific. But energy is a big thing so may want to look at energy related courses . Tbh when I take people on it’s more about their passion, personality (you have to have a certain something about you to do this job) and that they can demonstrate themselves that they live the sustainable values.

@Itsnotallaboutyoulikeyouthink as in a degree in energy engineering?

DN is now interested in this as a career but hadn't chosen geography a level. Looking into it a couple of years ago we found sustainability is more of a Master's degree topic so he's currently doing a business degree. If we had our time again and he'd done geography in 6th form, I think the ideal option would be a human geography bachelor's degree followed by a master's in sustainability. HTH!

I don’t specialise in energy do couldn't advise on exact pathways. But there are courses out there. Have a look at the energy companies websites as there will be info in there about what they are doing about renewables and possibly graduate opps so that will give you an idea. to give you daughter and idea these are all the things i work on in current job:
energy efficiency of existing homes
sustainability Of new homes
Biodiversity
energy management
decarbonisation of fleet
funding
internal/ external customer comms
sustainable procurement
waste management
sustainability training
env compliance
reporting

And everything else with a hint of sustainability that no one else wants to do! 😀

@Itsnotallaboutyoulikeyouthink ah yes DD does find renewables interesting. But she's also interested in nature, trees and like biodiversity kind of stuff as well

DD is interested in nature and conservation. She did an integrated Master’s in Biological Sciences, spent a year working as a conservation scientist for the UN and now works in the Nature Advisory division of a global engineering company.
DS is also interested in the environment but from an ESG perspective. He read Land Economy at university and then joined the climate risk team at a bank.

Thank you @ofteninaspin very interesting career paths Ur DC have taken

I don't know anything about sustainability really, but a friend is just about to start this Masters programme in Global Decarbonisation and Climate Change. warwick.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/courses/pgcert-pgdip-msc-climate-change-policy

It seems a general undergraduate course and then a more specific masters is what she's doing.