By Dr Sabeeha. N.B.A. Khadaroo
Photo by Beth Jr / unsplash.com
Climate change refers to the long-term alterations in the Earth’s climate patterns. It is caused by human activities that release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Greenhouse gases trap heat, leading to a warming effect on the planet.
The consequence of climate change is far-reaching. Its impact is felt in various aspects of society, and our environment. Various measures must be taken to mitigate climate change are existential. And we cannot leave it to a small group of people to determine the fate of our world. As citizens of Earth, we must work together to tackle climate change. One such action is to contribute towards climate jobs.
Climate Jobs
Climate jobs are also known as green jobs or sustainable jobs. These are jobs that contribute to addressing climate change and promoting environmental sustainability. It helps mitigates the impact of climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It fosters the transition towards a low-carbon and resilient economy.
Climate jobs are present in many sectors and industries. It plays a crucial role in the fight against climate change and towards protecting the environment. Some sectors that align with climate jobs are renewable energy sector. These involve the development, installation, and maintenance of clean energy sources. Green energy generation includes solar, wind, hydroelectric, geothermal, and biomass power. These energy sources help reduce the reliance on fossil fuels, thus decreasing greenhouse gas emissions.
In the energy efficiency sector, climate jobs look into improving energy usage. Energy auditors, HVAC technicians, and green building designers focus on reducing energy waste in buildings, industries, and transportation. Meanwhile, sustainable transportation looks into the manufacturing of electric vehicles, infrastructure for bicycles and sustainable urban planning. It aims to reduce emissions from the transportation sector, which is one of the more significant contributors to greenhouse gas emissions.
Likewise, in the climate research and policy sector, climate scientists, researchers and policymakers work on understanding climate change and developing strategies to mitigate its impact. It also implements climate policies at the local, national, and international levels. On the other hand, workers in the green technology sector design, develop and put in place innovative technologies that contribute to environmental sustainability and resource efficiency.
In the waste management and recycling sector, the workforce focuses on reducing, reusing, and recycling waste materials. They help cut landfill usage and decrease greenhouse gas emissions. All of which are associated with waste decomposition. In the environmental education and advocacy sector, educators and advocates are raising awareness about climate change, sustainability, and conservation. This has inspired many actions and is driving positive societal change.
Chemical Engineering
Photo by This is Engineering RAEng / unsplash.com
Chemical engineering is significant in climate jobs. Their efforts are monumental in combating climate change. They apply their expertise to environmental sustainability, clean energy production, and emissions reduction. They develop, optimize and scale up technologies used in renewable energy production. For example, they work on improving solar cell efficiency, designing bioenergy processes, and developing materials for wind turbines. Chemical engineers also develop and install CCS systems to capture carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and its storage.
Chemical engineers also work on designing and optimising chemical processes. They focus on minimising waste generation, energy consumption, and emissions during chemical manufacturing. They also contribute to improving energy efficiency in other industries. These include refining, petrochemicals, and manufacturing.
Chemical engineers are at the forefront of researching and developing alternative fuels. The use of biofuels and hydrogen replaces fossil fuels and mitigates climate change. They develop eco-friendly and sustainable materials for various applications. These materials can help reduce the environmental impact of products and processes. Advanced waste treatment and recycling technologies developed by these engineers help reduce pollution and conserve resources. They even help industries follow regulations and standards. This ensures that processes meet emission limits and environmental requirements.
Swinburne’s Research Flagship 3: Innovative Planet
Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak’s Research Flagship 3: Innovative Planet aligns with our passion for sustainability. We aim to achieve a carbon-neutral world by 2050 or earlier. Our research includes sustainable materials, clean energy and hydrogen, the circular economy, and smart energy management. Some ongoing research in its Chemical Engineering department includes CCS technology focusing on speciality membranes and accelerated weathering of limestone (AWL), a techno-economic project related to hydrogen production plants in collaboration with the local stakeholder and biofuel production in terms of biodiesel, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and the production of hydrogen from waste, to name a few.
Chemical engineering is very much related to climate jobs. It contributes to renewable energy, emissions reduction, sustainable processes, and technology. The skills and knowledge of chemical engineers are essential in creating a more climate-resilient and environmentally friendly future.
Dr Sabeeha. N.B.A. Khadaroo is a Chemical Engineering lecturer from the Faculty of Engineering, Computing and Science at Swinburne University of Technology, Sarawak Campus. She may be contacted at skhadaroo@swinburne.edu.my