There are many environmentally damaging industries and jobs, but also those with low emissions, and everything in between. Some industries, such as oil drilling, coal mining and peat extraction, should be greatly reduced to win the fight against climate change. Other industries, like aviation and animal agriculture, should mitigate and prevent the environmental harms they cause. The good news is that today there are many new industries such as clean technology that reduce negative environmental impacts and provide many new jobs and opportunities in the process. For example, Finland invests in this sector seeing as sustainable innovation is considered to be a source of employment and revenue growth in the future.

According to the government’s strategy to promote clean technology business in Finland, the vision is that by 2020 the country will be a global super power in the clean tech industry creating 40,000 new jobs. Clean tech refers to products, services, and projects promoting the sustainable use of natural resources while reducing emissions. Typically clean tech solutions are related to recycling, renewable energy, information technology and sustainable transport. The sharp growth of the global clean tech market illustrates its massive potential while investment in other energy sources is being reduced.

In addition to clean tech and technical-scientific enterprises, climate change can provide more job opportunities in businesses that help to achieve sustainable behaviour change. Local agriculture and travel increase and new environmentally friendly food products, such as Finnish pulled oats, are being created. In addition, businesses based on the sharing economy are growing in popularity.

Although climate change, its mitigation and adaptation create growth opportunities in many employment spheres, some jobs will suffer. Radical changes are likely in oil refining, peat extraction, winter sports (for example, ski centres), aviation and the livestock industry.

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The sharing economy is not business in the traditional sense, rather it can take many forms. It encourages new, creative, environmentally friendly and material-efficient ways to do business.

The sharing economy is a new type of communal economy that involves the production, use and consuming of goods. It is a combination of traditional communal approaches including work parties and flea markets, as well as communication through modern technologies. The sharing economy is based on the idea of cultural change; it is a sustainable shift from individual ownership to economic arrangements in which participants mutually have access to products or services. It can be seen as a part of a wider phenomenon known as the circular economy. It helps to fight not only climate change but also wasteful consumerism. Our current course and pace of consuming natural resources means they will soon be depleted.

By comparison, in the sharing economy people rent goods rather than buy them. In a sense, the phenomenon is about becoming an active citizen, who uses and offers products and services, instead of being a passive victim of consumption. In addition to selling and buying, renting, borrowing and donating are characteristic of the sharing economy. For example, in Finland the sharing economy includes flea market apps, carpooling, co-working, peer-to-peer rental and lending services, crowdfunding, service exchanges, time-based currency and food co-operatives.

The sharing economy is not based only on making a profit. It attracts businesses and the self-employed, as well as individuals who buy and sell goods or exchange services in their spare time. Not all of the businesses are profit-oriented.

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Company cars could be replaced with bicycles, electric or biogas cars. Through transport discount and cycle schemes employers can encourage the staff to use public transport and do more cycling. Also, remote work opportunities have a great potential in cutting greenhouse gas emissions, seeing as currently 75% of journeys to work are done by car. In addition, remote work helps to decrease congestion, noise pollution and traffic accidents. Modern communication tools such as video calling applications play a part in enabling a growing number of people to work remotely.

Shorter working hours can also help to mitigate climate change. According to studies, increased greenhouse gas emissions go hand-in-hand with longer working hours as this leads to higher levels of consumption of energy and goods. Less time at work could mean appreciating spare time over productivity growth.

Food, travel and housing are the largest components contributing to the carbon footprints of individuals. Lifestyle choices make a big impact on an individual’s carbon emissions. Those living in smaller houses typically have smaller carbon footprints than those in larger homes. Vegetarians consume fewer natural resources than those who consume large quantities of meat. The impacts of lifestyle choices vary in length and size.

Big changes in life such as moving house often create the conditions for future emissions. Examples of changes that negatively affect emissions would be moving to a new place that results in having to buy two cars or heating a poorly insulated home with inefficient direct electrical heating.

Single recurrent choices – e.g. long-distance travel, heating a second home in winter, maintaining a high indoor temperature or choices related to food and warm water – do not necessarily have to lead to continuous consequences as can major life changes. If they become a habit, however, they do have a big impact on our carbon footprint. To include another example, a single long-distance flight can add tens of percentage points to a person’s carbon footprint.

According to measurements, the impact of small steps to cut emissions is minuscule, but small steps are not meaningless if they lead towards significant action. Personal daily choices, such as energy efficient light bulbs or tote bags instead of plastic bags, can help us to establish lifelong patterns that empower us to make bigger and more difficult choices. Very few people start with big steps since it often feels too difficult and overwhelming. Therefore, we should start by taking small steps and believing in the possibility of change.

As stated, our career choice does not have to limit our opportunities to tackle climate change. A self-aware and active individual can make a difference in both professional and private life. For example, we can contribute to fight against climate change through voluntary activities in environmental organizations regardless of our profession. Contrary to common belief, as a pioneer, a single general practitioner or electrician can make a surprisingly big difference in her or his field.

The large-scale and complexity of climate change triggers anxiety in many. While studies are getting more and more accurate and the media often present climate change in a grim light, it is important to highlight hope when talking to children and young people.

In addition to the problems, it is crucial to introduce potential solutions of mitigation and adaptation strategies. Catastrophic climate change can still be avoided. Although future generations will have to live with negative impacts, responsibility for solving the problem shouldn’t be offloaded on to young people. Many adults are doing their utmost to combat climate change.

It is positive if young people speak out about their fears and hopes on climate change. Whatever they are, they should be taken seriously and be processed. Creative methods, such as music, drama, visual arts and creative physical activity can help to vent emotions and feelings. In addition, defining and visualising personal dreams and hopes about the future can help to tackle distress. What is important? What kind of world would you like to live in? What can you do to make it happen?

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