Student AffairsPursuing a career that aligns with SDG 13: Climate Action empowers you to combat climate change and its impacts. This goal focuses on mitigation, adaptation, and awareness. Explore how your efforts can support a sustainable and resilient planet.
The Goal: Climate Action
This goal urges immediate action to combat climate change and its impacts. It includes strengthening resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters, integrating climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning, and improving education, awareness, and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning.
The Work
Achieving SDG 13 involves taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts. It requires reducing greenhouse gas emissions, enhancing resilience and adaptive capacity, and integrating climate policies into national strategies. Investing in renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and climate-resilient infrastructure is crucial. International cooperation and funding are needed to support climate action, particularly in vulnerable regions.
The Skills
Below is a list of key skills that are in demand for careers related to SDG 13. While it is not necessary to master all of these skills, familiarity with them can enhance your readiness and competitiveness in the job market
- Environmental Science
- Advocacy
- Policy Understanding
- Technical Skills
- Community Engagement
- Crisis Management
- Climate Psychology
- Innovation
- Communication Skills
- Project Management
- Sustainability Practices
Engagement with Queen's and Kingston
You can help achieve SDG 12 by minimizing waste, recycling, reusing items, and opting for sustainable products. Supporting businesses that prioritize ethical and sustainable practices, engaging in local recycling programs, and raising awareness about responsible consumption are impactful actions. Additionally, educating others about the environmental effects of consumption habits and promoting sustainable lifestyles are vital for fostering change.
Clubs at Queen's
Volunteering in Kingston
Past QUIP Internships
- Emissions Management Intern
- Climate Change Co-Op
- Student Intern - Emergency Management Analyst Co-Op
- Junior Regulatory Development Officer-Environment and Climate
Sample Undergraduate Courses
- Undergraduate Programs in the School of Environmental Studies
- Earth System Science – Specialization (Science)
- ENSC 103 Environment and Sustainability
- ENSC 480 Special Topics In Environmental Science
- DEVS 250 Global Environmental Transformations
- DEVS 367 Climate Change and Disaster Risk
- GPHY 209 Weather and Climate
- LAW 537 International Climate Law
- ENSC 307 Marine Environmental Issues
Sample Graduate Courses
- ENSC 801 Methodological and Conceptual Basis for Environmental Studies
- ENSC 802 Global Environmental Problems: Issues in Sustainability
- ENSC 841 Climate Change Science and Policy
Career Possibilities
- Climate Scientist
- Climate Policy Analyst
- Climate Activist
- Conservation Scientist
- Climate Advocacy Specialist
- Science Communicator/Journalist
- Green Finance Specialist
- Sustainable Agriculture Specialist
- Public Health Specialist
- Climate Resilience Officer
- Environmental Impact Assessor
- Climate Data Analyst
Corporations, NGOs, and Government Agencies
Corporations can take climate action by reducing their greenhouse gas emissions and investing in climate resilience. They can adopt renewable energy sources, reduce emissions, improve energy efficiency, and implement sustainable practices in their operations and supply chains. Companies can also support climate adaptation and mitigation efforts through funding and innovation. By engaging in advocacy and collaboration with governments and other stakeholders, corporations can help shape policies and initiatives that address climate change and promote a sustainable low-carbon economy.
- Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC)
- 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP) (government program)
- Natural Resources Canada
- Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC)
