Had an interesting dialogue with a group of think tank young Turks with social science or public policy background looking forward to work in the ESG space , some inputs could be handy for young professionals across the board, as the green jobs ecosystem could be divided into :

• Rating agency analyst jobs – solid back end research jobs with easy transferable skills, abundant mass market entry level opportunities
• sustainability and energy market research analyst jobs – plenty of jobs at the entry level
• MEL and development consultancy jobs
• boutique ESG consulting firms such as Envint and EMC in Mumbai which offer plenty of quality openings for entry level
• INGOs resource persons
• big 4 analyst jobs (very competitive)
• ESIA consultant work (solid technical work but not the best paid)
• MBB consultancy specialist track jobs (hardest to crack as blue chip credentials are needed)
• in-house sustainability teams in big corporations
• ESG risk and disclosure work in banks and MFIs

The rule of thumb is that the start ups offer steep learning and larger firms offer better specialist understanding plus better pay, make your choice dependent on your situation. Each of these specialties need it’s own vocational grammar. Good certifications which young professionals can tap :

• CFA in ESG Investing
• GRI Certified Sustainability Professional

As any one in the just transition business knows, workforce competency is a material issue.

Anti Green Washing Auditing, Assurance and Disclosure are growth areas.