Climate Change Policy Analysts
Climate Change Policy Analysts is the O*NET name for people who research and analyze policy developments related to climate change. The skills rated most useful are reading comprehension, critical thinking, and active listening. One core duty is to provide analytical support for policy briefs related to renewable energy, energy efficiency, or climate change. Its interest code is IEC. Investigative leads at 6.7 out of 7, so expect research, analysis and working through hard problems, with Enterprising next at 4.7. Getting in usually takes graduate school and often five years or more of related experience, a level O*NET calls extensive preparation. If you want research, analysis and working through hard problems, keep it on your list. If you need hands-on work with tools, machines or the physical world, it may feel thin.
What they do
Research and analyze policy developments related to climate change. Make climate-related recommendations for actions such as legislation, awareness campaigns, or fundraising approaches.
Main tasks
- Provide analytical support for policy briefs related to renewable energy, energy efficiency, or climate change.
- Propose new or modified policies involving use of traditional and alternative fuels, transportation of goods, and other factors relating to climate and climate change.
- Prepare study reports, memoranda, briefs, testimonies, or other written materials to inform government or environmental groups on environmental issues, such as climate change.
- Analyze and distill climate-related research findings to inform legislators, regulatory agencies, or other stakeholders.
- Make legislative recommendations related to climate change or environmental management, based on climate change policies, principles, programs, practices, and processes.
- Present climate-related information at public interest, governmental, or other meetings.
Skills
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Speaking
- Complex Problem Solving
Who this career fits
May suit you if
- You enjoy working out why something happens, not just what happened.
- You like taking the lead and making the call.
- You are prepared for graduate-level study and a long training path.
- You are comfortable relying on reading comprehension and critical thinking.
May not suit you if
- You lose interest when a job asks for long stretches of analysis.
- You want to work with your hands for most of the day. Realistic rates 1.4 out of 7 here.
- You want to be working in the field within the next few years.
Interest profile
O*NET rates each occupation from 1 to 7 on six interest types. The code IEC takes the three highest, and Investigative comes first here.
Preparation
Extensive preparation. Many jobs here need graduate study, and people often spend five years or more building specialist experience.
Most-reported requirement in the O*NET survey: Master's Degree. This reflects what workers reported most often and is not a legal minimum. Licensing rules can differ by state or industry, so confirm what applies where you plan to work.
Also called
- Climate Advisor
- Climate Analyst
- Climate and Energy Program Associate
- Climate Economist
- Environmental Policy Analyst
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This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.