University of Minnesota - UMN Executive Leadership Insights
Meet the Climate Quitters
Article

Meet the Climate Quitters

An ever-growing roster of people are leaving their jobs to pursue careers combating climate change.

Oscar Boyd and Akshat Rathi
Bloomberg, 2023
Read the article

Read or listen offline

Amazon Kindle
  • 0.5×
  • 0.75×
  • 1×
  • 1.25×
  • 1.5×
  • 1.75×
1×

Editorial Rating

7

Qualities

  • Controversial
  • Hot Topic
  • Inspiring

Recommendation

The climate crisis has grown undeniably urgent in the minds of many, pushing more people to take dramatic action – including leaving their existing careers. Who are the “climate quitters” and what motivates them? To answer these questions, reporters Oscar Boyd and Akshat Rathi talked to people who quit their jobs to pursue work at environmentally responsible organizations or start their own. This article will appeal to anyone wondering how you might better align your life with your green values and what role your career can play in the fight against climate change.

Summary

The global green economy is growing fast, creating strong demand for people with relevant skills.

Rapid change is one primary feature of green industries. Not only are the sectors themselves developing rapidly, policy surrounding the green economy is changing all the time. The Inflation Reduction Act in the United States, for example, increased the scope of tax credits for solar power, affecting how projects are financed. 

The International Labor Organization projects that, with the right government support, the world could create up to 24 million green jobs by 2030. Right now, listings for green jobs are outpacing the number of candidates with the required skills.

For green industries to grow they will need to attract workers from other sectors. For example, almost a third of new workers in green energy used to work in the oil and gas industry. 

“Climate quitters” decide to change jobs because they want to work in a field that combats climate...

About the Authors

Oscar Boyd is a podcast producer and reporter with Bloomberg News. Akshat Rathi is a senior climate reporter with Bloomberg News.

Comment on this summary