Carbon neutrality and net zero emissions are two popular terms you’ve probably heard used interchangeably, but they mean different things.
Carbon neutral means removing as much carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from the atmosphere as you produce so that the final average output is zero.
Net zero involves no greenhouse gases altogether. CO2 emissions created by human activity and industry are reduced and captured so that none are released into the atmosphere.
While challenging, this target of zero emissions is the goal for many countries to prevent further escalation of climate change. Renewable and clean energy is the first step, capture is the second, and continual optimization with new processes is the third.
For entry-level job seekers in the energy sector, it means you could have access to more energy jobs being offered in the energy sector.
The Global Net Zero Emission Effort
The global push for net zero emissions is reshaping the energy industry by creating new job opportunities.
Companies are working toward balancing the greenhouse gases they emit with what they remove from the atmosphere. It’s protecting the environment but also driving the future of jobs in energy toward net zero emissions.
For entry-level job seekers, this shift opens doors for you to careers in renewable energy, energy efficiency, and sustainability. It’s an exciting time to get involved in the green economy!
However, this global effort isn’t happening in just one part of the world. Many countries are contributing to a more significant effort to combat climate change.
One of the most significant global milestones in that effort was the signing of the Paris Agreement in 2015. This treaty brought countries together with a shared goal to curb greenhouse gas emissions and slow climate change.
Paris Agreement
In 2015, almost every country across the globe signed an international treaty called the Paris Agreement to address and correct climate change.
Every country signed the treaty agreed to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions to limit further global warming.
The target was to keep the increase in global temperatures below two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, but aiming for it to not increase more than 1.5 degrees.
Every country set its goals and timelines (often 2025 and 2050) to reduce emissions, called their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
Key Strategies and Technologies in Net Zero Emission Efforts
Companies use a variety of strategies and technologies to work toward these NDCs. These can be broadly grouped into government policies, renewable energy, and technological advancements.
Circular Economy
Government policies and economic systems aim to establish a baseline for consumers and businesses.
The circular economy is an economic system based on reducing waste, increasing recycling, and maximizing resource efficiency so that businesses can continue to produce products and deliver services in a sustainable and environmentally friendly way.
The four main concepts of circular economy are:
- Reuse: Extend product life cycles by purchasing products secondhand or using them for another purpose.
- Recycling: Also called closing the loop, items can be broken down into their parts and made into new items.
- Waste reduction: Designing for efficiency and with the first two steps in mind.
- Product redesign: Reworking the product lifecycle to maximize products, eliminate waste wherever possible, and address energy conservation.
Energy Efficiency Measures
According to the Paris-based International Energy Agency (IEA), the energy sector is responsible for three-quarters of global emissions. Utilizing energy efficiency assists with the emissions reductions needed to sustain net zero emission efforts.
These measures start with a management program with no or low-cost saving opportunities followed by off-the-shelf upgrades like implementing LED lighting.
These simple operational and maintenance changes can be followed by more complex energy engineering products that create new jobs prioritizing waste heat recovery and redesigning processes to maximize carbon reductions.
These action steps are part of a decarbonization plan, which has numerous benefits for businesses and employees.
- It can be completed now.
- Low risk with proven payback
- Cost-effective
- Prevents energy waste
Energy efficiency management plans are the first substantial step manufacturers and producers take to decarbonize and reduce industrial carbon emissions.
Energy efficiency can be paired with:
- Reducing energy use: even small reductions in everyday plant use accumulate significantly over the year.
- Prioritizing renewables and electrification: using only renewable energy may not be feasible for all industries, but many options for a partial switch to renewables exist. Introducing one solar or hydroelectric turbine can replace a large amount of carbon.
- Low or no carbon fuels: delivery fleets can represent many hidden carbon emissions. Prioritizing low or no carbon fuels in the distribution process can alleviate some emissions.
- Material efficiency: also part of following a circular economy. Creating efficiency before manufacturing can reduce carbon emissions the rest of the way through manufacturing.
Making the most of the business’s energy can reduce industrial carbon emissions by up to 34% in many sectors. Many projects that can be implemented today have longer paybacks, which require them to be implemented now to reduce the risks in the future.
Green Hydrogen
Hydrogen has become a popular energy source. However, it is usually created with fossil fuels. It’s possible to create green hydrogen, also known as renewable hydrogen, using renewable energy sources like solar or wind power in a process known as electrolysis.
Germany, Spain, Australia, and the United States have already begun to lead the global hydrogen market.
An electrical current splits hydrogen atoms into hydrogen and oxygen to create green hydrogen, or bacteria and microbes break down biomass into hydrogen. The leftover oxygen can be vented into the atmosphere without any negative impact.
What makes this green hydrogen so useful is that it can then be used as a clean energy source for industries and transport. Green hydrogen is a clean-burning fuel that produces no greenhouse gases when burned, stored, or produced.
With the rise of green hydrogen comes a need for the associated energy jobs. These positions you may be interested in include researchers and manufacturing engineers in green hydrogen plants and research institutes.
Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)
Since the mid-1990s, CCS has been capturing CO2 emissions before it reaches the atmosphere, often at the emission source, transporting and storing the carbon by burying it in a suitable underground location.
CCS falls into three categories depending on when the carbon is captured.
- Post-combustion capture: the primary method used in existing power plants
- Pre-combustion carbon capture: traditionally used in industrial processes
- Oxy-fuel combustion carbon capture: for retrofitted power plants that are burning fuel in pure oxygen. This method allows for complete sequestration of CO2.
Direct Air Capture (DAC)
Unlike CCS, direct air capture extracts CO2 directly from the atmosphere rather than attempting to gather it beforehand. Then it stores it permanently. It primarily addresses the need to balance emissions from long-distance transportation and heavy industry where CCS cannot.
The captured carbon can be used as a climate-neutral feedstock for a range of products that need carbon.
Although only 18 DAC facilities are operating in Canada, Europe, and the United States in 2024, more are expected to be built soon as the industry grows, and those operating now have begun plans to expand.
Jobs in DAC and CCS you could pursue include entry-level customer-facing positions such as customer operations specialist and manual labor jobs operating carbon capture equipment.
Entry-Level Workers Help Achieve Net Zero Goals
As more countries aim for net zero carbon emissions in 2050, the demand for jobs in clean energy is steadily increasing in 2025.
Types of Entry-Level Jobs
The in-demand roles in the clean energy sector are expected to grow, especially in Canada and the United States.
Research and engineering jobs were often cited as the needed entry-level jobs, with business and skilled trades following closely behind.
- Research, development, and engineering: Chemists, renewable energy specialists, engineers (general, chemical, electrical, energy management, mechanical), and energy managers.
- Business and Marketing: Sales representatives
- Skill Trades: Technicians (wind, general, solar), HVAC installers, mechanics
- Digital Technology: Data analysts, machine learning developers, programmers
- Operations: Control and valve installers and repairers, estimators, operators
- Environmental Consulting: Environmental scientists, hydrogeologists, Sustainable urban designers
- Regulatory and civil roles: Inspectors, safety personnel, policy analysts
These entry-level jobs range in the level of education necessary from training being provided on the job in the case of some technician positions to the need for a degree for engineering and digital technology roles.
Skills Needed for Net Zero Energy Jobs
Net zero and renewable energy jobs require a blend of soft and technical skills, but those skills will vary depending on the role you are attempting to acquire and the renewable energy sector you’re thinking of applying to.
Technical skills (both formal and on-the-job training):
- Materials engineering
- Electrical and electronics skills
- Project management
- Understanding of energy designs
- Production processes
- Safety regulations
- Industry trends
- Lifecycle assessment
Soft skills:
- Problem-solving
- Teamwork
- Leadership skills
- Adaptability
- Self-management
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking
- Creativity
For example, if you were looking at an engineering position, you would require a suitable education, such as a civil or mechanical engineering degree.
You would also benefit from an understanding of the mechanics of renewable energy systems design, experience with project management, strong analytical abilities, and the ability to collaborate with others on a team.
Conclusion
Thanks to the transition many businesses are making from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources. As it continues, it offers career opportunities for new graduates and those looking to transition away from fossil fuels.
Since the Paris Agreement in 2015, countries worldwide have pledged to decrease carbon emissions until they are net zero, meaning no carbon is released into the atmosphere.
The plans they created include focusing on renewable energy instead of fossil fuels, carbon capture, and the prioritization of job creation to support energy efficiency in all sectors.
If a job in renewable energy focused on helping future generations sounds like a fit for you, you can read more on the blog or look through the job listings and see if your current skills match what industry leaders are looking for.
