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Pathways to Climate Careers

JUMP TO: Benefits | Climate Career Examples | Featured Programs | Resources

You can make a difference in your community

Did you know that Vermont does not have enough people working in jobs that fight climate change?

If you care about climate change, think about how your skills could apply to a climate career in Vermont!

What is a climate career?

Jobs in renewable energy, weatherization, clean heat, clean transportation, and agriculture and forestry that support the climate.

These are jobs that:

More and more workers are needed to help fight climate change each year, even in Vermont. These jobs pay well because they need people with special skills and training, and there are usually many job openings available.

Climate careers can look like jobs you already know about

Electricians

Electricians install solar panels, prepare homes for electric heating/cooling and for electric vehicle charging.

Plumbers

Plumbers install and maintain high efficiency water boilers, and the plumbing to support efficient heat pumps for home heating and cooling.

HVAC Technicians

Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) technicians replace fossil fuel systems with cleaner alternatives, and maintain those systems for greatest efficiency.

Carpenters & Insulators

Carpenters and weatherization technicians create buildings that are more efficient, and retrofit older buildings to use less energy and be more comfortable and healthy.

Foresters

Foresters manage lands sustainably and maximize carbon sinks.

Conservation Scientists

Conservation scientists manage, improve, and protect natural resources to maximize their use without damaging the environment.

  • Offered by ReSource

    Construction 101 | Certification

    Construction 101 prepares trainees for entry-level work in the construction trades. Students practice being on a construction crew, working collaboratively with their fellow trainees. They work on construction projects as they would on an actual job site.

  • Offered by Vermont State University

    Renewable Energy | Bachelor’s Degree

    As a student in this program, you will gain real-world, hands-on experience in designing, building, and implementing renewable energy sources like solar, wind, water, and geothermal heat. Graduates of this program are ideal candidates for jobs as solar installers, wind turbine technicians, sustainability specialists, and more.

Resources for Exploration

Nearly 75% of Vermont’s greenhouse gas emissions come from the transportation and the building/thermal sectors. That means we especially need more workers focusing on electric vehicles, weatherization efforts, and clean heating.