Climate Career Pathways (In Development)
Helping students connect passion to purpose—and purpose to the planet.
The climate crisis will reshape every career. Whether you're into science or storytelling, tech or policy, art or advocacy—there's a place for you in building a livable future.
Climate Career Pathways is a hands-on, exploratory program that helps students discover how their personal interests connect to real-world climate jobs. Through interactive activities, career spotlights, and purpose-driven reflection, students learn how people across industries are already leading change—and how they can, too.
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In this course, students will acquire the skills needed to make real-world contributions to solving the climate crisis. They’ll explore climate-related careers and discover how their own interests and talents can contribute to a zero-carbon future. Whether a student is passionate about science, engineering, or social justice, this course will help them uncover ways to leverage their interests toward specific climate change actions.
What are Pathways
Climate Career Pathways helps you figure out how the things you're already into—science, art, tech, design, or even TikTok—can lead to careers that actually help the planet.
This is not about choosing one job for the rest of your life. It's about discovering possibilities you didn’t know existed.
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Who it's for: Grades 8–12 (adaptable for middle and high school)
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Where it works:In classrooms, clubs, libraries, advisory periods, or anywhere students are exploring the future
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Skills built: Confidence, purpose, systems thinking, and a clearer sense of how your skills connect to climate action
What Students Explore
Students will connect their interests with meaningful opportunities in five broad sectors:
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Science & Environment: Environmental research, energy innovation, ecology
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Policy & Advocacy: Law, public policy, international relations, nonprofit leadership
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Art & Media: Storytelling, journalism, social media, creative campaigns
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Business & Innovation: Green startups, sustainable business, supply chain strategy
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Technology & Engineering: Urban planning, carbon removal, clean energy, circular systems
Each theme includes:
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Real-world spotlights from professionals
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Reflection prompts tied to student strengths and values
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Optional creative activities or career maps
Why It Matters
"Every job will be affected by climate change. We look at every sector of the economy, and every sector will have to change. This isn’t some little transition." - Lara Skinner, founding executive director of the Climate Jobs Institute at Cornell University.
Young people care deeply about the climate crisis. But many don’t yet see how their strengths can translate into careers that make a difference.
Climate Career Pathways helps students:​
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Expand their idea of what a "climate job" looks like
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Connect personal passions with real-world impact
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Build purpose-driven leadership and post-high school readiness
Bring Climate Career Pathways to Your School or Community
This program is currently in development—but we would like to hear from you.
We're creating:
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A flexible facilitator guide for educators or student leaders
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Plug-and-play activities and visual tools
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Reflection and storytelling prompts
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Optional showcase or capstone formats
