We Need A Greener Planet And More Environmental Economists!
You can't turn on any media without hearing about the state of the environment. No one denies the world must find alternates to non-replenishable energy, clean up pollution and produce more food without depleting land. At the same time, there is a cost to doing all this, and not just the financial costs. That person is the environmental economist.
Environmental economists are financial people also trained in the environmental sciences. They do research regarding cost versus benefit for such matters as alternative fuels, land use, conservation, pollution control and other environmental subjects. Like auditors they also must look at various environmental policies to uncover whether they are worth the cost, also keeping an eye out for fraud.
In plain English, they apply classic economic principles of costs versus benefits with the goal of a much greener earth on one side of the ledger and what it would cost to get there on the other side. Yes, one no one in their right mind disagrees about the concept of Obama's creating a green economy platform. It's another thing to create a cost-effective way of getting there.
Quite frankly, there are those who argue that the world should be environmentally conscious no matter what the costs. On the other side of the equation are those who don't care about the long term costs of a toxic waste dump unless it's built in their back yard. While economists don't overtly cover the health aspects (except the cost factor), what the economist must do is show all sides how to logically achieve green agenda objectives at the least cost to the everyday citizen.
One interested in becoming an environmental economist should have strong math grades before considering their post-secondary education. From there, the most common path is to enroll in a Bachelor's program in one of the main business disciplines, with emphasis on macro-economic subjects. Some courses in environmental sciences would also make good electives. After this, it's pretty much a strong MBA path with online colleges, including passing the GMAT, and then taking more specialized courses in one's Masters program.
As the MBA process involves holding down a job, those interested in the field should start employment in a government agency, a private environmental company or something similar. This is one a key arenas to pick up more scientific knowledge, as well as provide a proper internship for when one does get their MBA.
Salaries for environmental economists with his/her MBA or MS are commensurate with others in the field at $87,000 a year. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported growth in this STEM profession as slow back in 2008. It's just been turned to above average, due mainly to the federal administration's goals for a green economy.
This makes environmental economics the new buzz industry along the Beltway, one that no doubt has a long and prosperous future ahead of it. The environment has to be addressed. These new economists will be the ones that have to weigh what it will cost to improve it. You can join the important work by going to online college and achieving your bachelor science degree.
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