Environmental roles in transport and tourism

The impact we mere mortals make on the environment has become big news in recent years, and this has spread into many areas of our everyday lives. Transport and tourism have really felt this pressure: almost all airlines offer the chance to offset your carbon emissions or charge a green tax, and cars and public transport are taking steps to become more environmentally friendly.

Someone has to innovate and implement ideas as to how to make the way we get around greener, and it could be you: there are a growing number of jobs in the transport and tourism areas that fall under the environmental umbrella.

What you’ll do and how much you’ll earn by working in ecotourism

Tourism has particularly felt the effects of people wishing to reduce their carbon footprint, and charities and the government are encouraging us to take more holidays within our own countries. As a result, travel companies are forced to work harder to encourage people to take exotic holidays and to find green incentives to justify the carbon cost.  Ecotourism is a rapidly expanding phenomenon; we can now make a difference to a local community, or help to save a species whilst on holiday.

Some companies hire interns on three- to five-month placements to assist in the smooth-running of their offices and these can be an essential foot in the door. Further down the line as a group leader on location you will be paid a daily rate that will cover your living expenses, and most good companies will provide performance-based bonuses.

A job managing the organisation of eco-friendly holidays or regional tourism could earn you around £35,000, although some of these roles are voluntary. A relevant degree or is experience in tourism is not essential, but both will help. You will usually be required to commit a set minimum of time to a project and to undertake a first aid course before commencing employment.

Green transport

The ever-growing responsibility of businesses to minimise their negative impact on the environment brings a need for new transport plans to be implemented. For large companies this has prompted the creation of new jobs, particularly in research. As a researcher for a university wishing to transform their transportation methods you can expect to earn between £27,000 and £30,000. Sustainability managers for this sort of project can command £45,000 salaries.