There is no denying that our globe is feeling the pressure to survive, and the prognosis is bleak unless changes are made to the way in which the world’s governments, businesses, and the public conduct themselves. Climate change is a serious issue that is often discussed on the world stage, and many organisations are trying to encourage everyone to live in a more environmentally friendly way.
If you have a passion for protecting the environment or you would like to learn more about climate change so that you can make a positive impact in conservation efforts, then study environmental courses. By educating yourself in this manner, you will be able to not only help look after the environment but also potentially move into a job role that focuses on environmental efforts.
Continue reading to learn more about environmental issues, how you can study environmental courses, and how environmental jobs can be combined with almost any other interest.
Changing The Mindset in Business
When it comes to businesses, there is plenty of pressure on them to implement processes that adhere to environmentally friendly practices.
This is part and parcel of their corporate social responsibility. However, becoming more environmentally aware can also improve a company’s public image and lead to social and economic growth. This is because younger generations are more aware of real-world sustainability issues, and are therefore more inclined to choose brands who actively look to reduce environmental factors.
What are Environmental Factors?
There are various environmental factors businesses and the public in general need to consider. The two main elements are physical factors, including climate change and the weather, but there are also green factors, which consist of recycling and pollution.
Climate Change
When it comes to environmental awareness, one of the phrases that you will often hear people discuss is climate change. This refers to shifts in the temperatures - known as global warming - and long-term deviation from normal weather patterns. The world is getting hotter by the year as a result of the rise of greenhouse gases.
According to the United Nations, greenhouse gas concentration levels are at their highest in 2 million years. These emissions form a blanket around the world, capturing heat from the sun and increasing temperatures. More emissions are being released into the air due to human activities and behaviours, such as transport, agriculture, energy use, and industry.
You will learn during environmental courses that as well as rising temperatures, climate change can lead to the following:
- Droughts
- Fires
- Rising sea levels
- Flooding
- Storms
- Melting polar ice
Air Pollution
Gas-guzzling vehicles cause air pollution that can lead to health problems and wider issues with the environment. The issue with air pollution is that it is not always evident, and because of this, people are not aware of the severe environmental impact, but air pollution is one of the biggest issues in the current climate.
Water Usage
Water is good for our health, but when it comes to environmental awareness, overuse of water in certain industries can cause problems for the world as a whole. Water in farming and agriculture is also causing a wider issue that needs to be addressed.
Waste and Land Pollution
Landfills contribute to the large number of methane emissions in the atmosphere. Toxic waste is made up of electronics and chemicals that can cause problems to the environment. When our rubbish gets collected by the council, plenty of it ends up in landfills, which is what makes recycling important.
How to be More Environmentally Friendly
There are many different things the public can do to reduce emissions and limit our overall carbon footprint. Even the smallest of changes can make a difference. You can learn an in-depth understanding of environmental factors and issues by studying environmental courses, but you may also want to consider the following lifestyle changes:
- Recycle
- Avoid using single-use plastics
- Only buy what you will use
- Buy second-hand products
- Donate used clothing or appliances
- Purchase sustainable clothing and apparel
- Avoid disposable products
- Stop drinking bottled water
- Upcycle
Careers With An Environmental Focus
If you want to do more for the planet and start a career that has an environment and sustainability focus, you certainly won’t be short of options. The desperate need for environmental protection has resulted in almost every single industry looking for ways to make a positive change.
Check out some of the popular areas of interest below and how you can involve them with an environmentally-focused career.
Animals and Wildlife
Having diverse and abundant ecosystems is essential for all life on Earth to thrive. Animals play a huge part in our existence, so it’s vital we do all we can to protect them.
If you love animals and wildlife, you could combine that with your passion for the environment by working in:
- Community-Based Conservation
- Ecology
- Marine Biology and Ocean Conservation
- Rewilding and Restoration
- Wildlife Rehabilitation
- Wildlife Conservation
- Zookeeping
- Zoology
Building Design
With one of the biggest threats to the environment and wildlife being habitat loss, it’s vital we create man-made spaces that are more eco-conscious.
If you’re looking to get into sustainable development, studying Eco Building Design will teach you about the environmental considerations involved in building, so you can become a green and responsible Builder or Architect.
Business
There are so many aspects of a business that can benefit from an environmental focus, which is why we offer an abundance of online environmental courses for people in business.
- Our Environmental Awareness course is aimed at businesses looking to implement environmental awareness and strategy
- If you are a small business owner or are keen to move into environmental management, our Level 4 Environmental Legislation and Policy Certificate delves into the legal processes and initiatives that are in place to care for the environment
- For those of you keen to progress into a management role related to the environment, our Level 3 Environmental Management Certificate course is perfect
Other environmental management courses we offer that will be useful for your business include:
Fashion
You could combine your love of clothes with protecting the environment by studying sustainability in fashion. With the industry being such a huge contributor to the climate crisis, knowing how to make fashionable yet conscious pieces is a highly desirable trait!
Farming and Agriculture
Humans need farming and agriculture to survive but the way the industry has been run throughout history has had a drastic impact on our environment.
If environmental protection is kept at the forefront of farming processes, it can actually benefit the environment. This is why more people are studying courses in farming management, machinery, and animal care, to learn about improved methods of working. Not to mention gaining a scientific understanding of the land they wish to cultivate.
If you want to be an environmentally-focused Farmer, our online courses are an excellent place to start!
Technology
Anyone who is into technology can easily incorporate their knowledge and skills into an environmental career since modern-day environmentalists rely heavily on the data provided by advanced technology.
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are a perfect example of this, as they predict weather patterns, gather data about water resources, and map and monitor the growth of flora and fauna. By harnessing GIS Mapping, Ecologists can explore and model patterns in everything from land use to animal migration.
Waste Management
With waste and land pollution being one of the key environmental factors society must address, careers in environmental waste management are incredibly important and in demand.
If you successfully complete our online Environmental Waste Management course, you will understand everything from the way water is treated to the increasing risk posed by nuclear fuel and waste and how to prevent it.
Complete an Environmental Degree
Our range of environmental courses will not only raise your environmental awareness, they can help you work towards important roles in the community, within organisations, or at the government level. Should you need to complete an environmental degree to achieve your career goal, we also have a course that can help.
There are various routes to meeting the entry requirements for university, but you will likely need a certain number of GCSEs and A-Levels or Access to Higher Education Diplomas.
Depending on the environmental degree you want to study, the Access to Higher Education Diploma (Land Based Science) may be beneficial. This is because the course delves into ecology and the environment, as well as agriculture and animal care. It boasts a wide-ranging syllabus, which can be used to pursue a range of degrees and professions.
By enrolling on our Access to Higher Education Diploma, you will benefit from the following:
- 100% online learning
- An Individual Learning Plan that outlines the submission deadlines of your assignments
- No exams
- Flexible learning – you have two years to achieve this nationally recognised qualification, but most learndirect students complete it on average between 9-12 months
Become More Environmentally Aware Today!
If you are keen to enhance your own environmental awareness or pursue environmental sustainability jobs, we have a range of online courses that can help. By studying with learndirect, you will have the freedom to learn at your own pace and at a time that suits you.
To find out more information about our environmental courses, give one of our Course Executives a call on 01202 006 464. Alternatively, you can contact us online or click below to learn more by downloading our FREE sustainability faculty brochure!
