What are the benefits of studying sustainability management?

The WMO Climate Report just made a shocking revelation. He said we are heading into “uncharted territory of destruction”. Companies must do their part to help change course before it is too late.

It’s becoming apparent that with most of the headlines lately, the environment is going through a tough time. In 2015, we reported that climate change was already having a huge impact on the weather. Things have only gotten worse since we first published this article. Western Europe has been hit by droughts, wildfires and almost the entire globe has seen rising temperatures. The ripple effects of these have resulted in agricultural disruptions, human and animal deaths, garden hose bans, and many other problems.

Whether it’s a G20 meeting or the late Queen’s speech (let her rest in her speech), climate change and sustainability are becoming the focus of not just politics, but business as well. It becomes the absolute priority for the whole world concerning the future of society and of the environment itself.

Sustainability is often seen as a societal issue, and therefore a problem that our government must address. But there are two reasons why this is so relevant to businesses. First, many of the policies used to promote sustainability target businesses, as they play the most important role in the production of new goods and services. Additionally, consumers are becoming increasingly aware of their behaviors, prompting more companies to market their services to them.

The truth is that sustainability in business matters more than ever. You need to take steps to help reduce your employer’s carbon footprint. A degree in sustainability management can help.

Demand for Green Solutions Creates Growing Demand for Sustainability Management Professionals

Due to the growing need to improve business practices and operations to meet new sustainability standards, there is a growing demand for sustainability management professionals. What services can these experts offer to companies striving to be more eco-responsible?

You should consider the benefits of getting a Master in Sustainability before pursuing a career in this field. You want to know what you can offer an employer. The biggest benefit is that you can help them break existing production patterns and change business activity and change business practices to better align with visions of environmentally responsible businesses.

It is not just social interest and expectations that lead companies to hire professionals in the management of sustainable development. Economic incentives are also driving the need for these professionals. Shareholder benefits remain a priority, but companies want to partner and collaborate with companies that excel in sustainability. No one wants to be associated with companies that are bad for the environment or receive negative public relations, which is why business relationships are a big part of sustainability. Knowing where your product comes from and your supplier’s sustainability practices, for example, is important as an environmentally responsible business.

Career opportunities

Due to this growing demand for sustainability management professionals, career opportunities are on the rise. The International Labor Organization estimates that there will be 24 million new jobs related to sustainability and digitization In the coming years. There are drastic changes in the production system every day, which are further perpetuated by the conflict in Ukraine and its implications for energy supply in Europe.

Moreover, sustainability management is a theoretical field. It’s actually more academic than most other areas within most companies. This implies that graduate jobs that require no experience are likely to be more common than in other fields. Fortunately, due to the positive impact of sustainability, there are many ways to gain experience with nonprofits and charities. These may be easier for people to find jobs with. New entrants to the profession may not be paid, but they could have a huge competitive advantage for a graduate’s resume. Voluntary work should not be a prerequisite, but having plenty of opportunities to do so (compared to, for example, a supply buyer role) can only be a good thing.

A Master of Science in Sustainability is also considered a fantastic complement to a degree in a specific field. For example, an economics major may decide to spend another year studying sustainability without needing a 3-year sustainability degree. This allows students to decide during their bachelor’s degree that they want to have a positive impact on their careers, making the additional year of a master’s degree an ideal stepping stone into this field.

Positive impact

It’s not just about money and career opportunities. Many of us are looking for ways to spend our time meaningfully and struggle to see how our careers can align with that. With sustainability management, the 9 to 5 routine becomes much more appealing when you know you are making a positive difference in society.

In sustainability management, there is room for specialization. There are economic, social and environmental aspects you can focus on depending on your interests – but ultimately these skills are transferable and go well together.

To be more specific, an environmentally-focused sustainability management student may focus on the carbon footprint produced during production and logistics, and the impact of current policy changes on the business in a political sense. , legal and commercial. However, a socially oriented student can specialize in corporate social responsibility and environmental law.

If there’s one thing companies like to talk about, it’s the positive impact they’ve had on the world. For example, a sanitation company bragging about how much water it has saved, and similar statistics are often at the heart of shareholder presentations and marketing. It’s great for those working on these issues because they don’t go unnoticed – your work will be highly valued, visible and applauded more than any other area of ​​the business.

It is also a problem-oriented and goal-oriented field, which means that you will always have a direction to follow and you can act with a purpose. This isn’t about “making profit for profit’s sake,” but rather being the conscious voice of the business and helping it stay on track with its sustainability goals.