|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
 |
A
Job To Love
Imagine crossing the street in the year
2022. You notice that one in every 10
vehicles is electric and one in every
five vehicles is hybrid (electric and
gas). You were in high school when Canada
signed the Kyoto Protocol and after
completing a post-secondary degree,
you started working on environmental
policy. Your first task was to research
solutions to improve our energy efficiency.
Your working group suggested that you
encourage the use and production of
hybrid vehicles. After submitting reports
and reviewing other options, your team’s
idea was adopted as policy. Now you
smile while thinking of how much we’ve
advanced. So many people once said that
what you're seeing today would never
be possible.
Environmental
policy analysts carry out research
on the state of our environment and
look at how people would like to use
our natural resources. They then make
decisions that influence how we care
for our environment and its resources.
Most analysts work in an office, both
in groups and on their own. Aboriginal
policy analysts play an important
role in shaping the environmental
policies that represent Aboriginal
interests in protecting resources
found on Aboriginal land.
Don’t
expect a lot of quiet days at the
office. This job can be very stressful
as policy changes affect many people
with different interests. Some people
will want more access provided to
the environment and other people will
want less. You’ll need to balance
these desires, and somebody will always
be upset about your policies. You’ll
also need to be patient, because policy
takes a long time to change and you
won’t see the results of your
work immediately. But if you’re
a person with vision and someone who
wants to make the world a better place
for the future, then you'll see these
issues as small hurdles.
Job
Description
Environmental policy analysts influence
how Canadians and Canadian companies
can use our natural resources. For example,
a new scientific study may find that
some homes are high in toxic chemicals.
You would take that data and determine
what normally causes this problem. Then
you would help to create new government
plans that reduce the risks of toxic
poisoning. While many environmental
policy analysts work for various levels
of government, others work for private
companies, environmental advocacy groups,
and consulting companies. Others are
self-employed.
Job
Duties
- Conduct
interviews, and collect and analyse
data
- Consult
with the public and stakeholders
to make or change environmental
policy
- Write
reports on the status of our environment
and the reason(s) for changing policies
- Evaluate
new environmental policies
- Evaluate
the environmental impact of company
activities
- Monitor
and evaluate environmental programs
- Maintain
and manage databases of environmental
statistics and information
- Present
the views of an association or organization
to politicians, government officials,
the media or the general public
Fact
On December 17, 2002, the Government
of Canada announced ratification of
the Kyoto Protocol. This means we
are committed to cutting 240 mega-tonnes
of carbon dioxide (or its equivalent
in other greenhouse gasses) by 2012.
Possible strategies for reduction
include improving energy efficiency,
purchasing pollution permits, and
investing in green power.
|
|
 |
 |
|
High
school courses that will prepare you
for this job include social sciences,
law, business, economics, and English.
Aboriginal studies, history, and languages
will prepare you for working in a multi-cultural
setting. Talk to your career or academic
counsellor about options such as statistics,
finance or computer science. Also, discuss
which math and science classes you will
need to enter your preferred university.
The
minimum education requirement for
becoming an environmental policy analyst
is a bachelor’s degree in environmental
studies, political science, economics,
natural sciences, business administration
or a related field. Most environmental
policy analysts also have a graduate
degree in public administration, environmental
management or environmental science.
A graduate degree will make you more
competitive and help you advance in
the field.
Depending
on the position and organization,
professional designations such as
professional agrologist, biologist,
geologist, forester or engineer may
be required.
Before
entering the workforce, some environmental
policy analysts require additional
training in:
- Computers
- Supervisory
skills
- French
Look
into specific high school prerequisites
set by the university you would like
to attend.
|
|
|
 |
|
Environmental
policy analysts with a university
degree make an average of $51,000.00
per year.
Environmental
policy analysts with a graduate degree
make an average of $76,000.00 per
year.
Environmental
policy analysts with several years
of education and experience make an
average of $90,000.00 per year.
Financial
Assistance
In addition to the general scholarship
tips listed in the BUILD MY CAREER
section, the following awards are
specific to environmental policy analysts:
G.F. MacDowell Scholarship in Public
Policy
$530.00 from Brandon University awarded
to the student with the highest standing
in either Economics or Public Finance.
Contact: The Scholarship Office
Brandon University
Brandon, MB
R7A 6A9
Telephone: (204) 727-9737
Fax: (204) 727-4072
email: scholarships@brandonu.ca
McLaughlin
College Public Policy Scholarship
Awarded annually by York University
to a second-, third- or fourth-year
McLaughlin College student with a
major or minor in the public policy
program or area of study.
Contact: Office of Student
Financial Services
Suite D, West Office Building
4700 Keele Street
Toronto, ON
M3J 1P3
Telephone: (416) 736-5614
Fax: (416) 736-5386
website: www.yorku.ca/osfs
|
|
|
 |
|
Some
of the best knowledge you’ll
gain for this job will come from listening
to the stories and wisdom of your
relations. Listen to the concerns
that your community has about the
environment. Talk to your Elders to
learn more about traditional ways
of respecting the earth’s natural
resources and learn how people traditionally
chose and changed their rules. The
more methods you have for working
with people effectively and the more
understanding you have of the natural
world, the more your knowledge will
appeal to employers.
Relate to people in similar jobs:
- Environmental
lawyer
- Aboriginal
liaison
- Environmental
scientist
- Traditional
ecological knowledge (TEK) advisor
Relate
to and interact with environmental
policy analysts. Ask them what they
like about their jobs and how you
should get started.
United Nations Environment Programme
United Nations Avenue, Gigiri
PO Box 30552
Nairobi, Kenya
Telephone: (254) 262-1234
Fax: (254) 624-489/90
email: eisinfo@unep.org
Les
Ami(e)s de la Terre / Friends of the
Earth Canada
260 St. Patrick Street, Suite 206
Ottawa, ON
K1N 5K5
Telephone: 1-888-385-4444 or (613)
241-0085
Fax: (613) 241-7998
email: foe@foecanada.org
website: www.foecanada.org
Canadian
Institute for Environmental Law and
Policy (CIELAP)
130 Spadina Avenue, Suite 305
Toronto, ON
M5V 2L4
Telephone: (416) 923-3529
Fax: (416) 923-5949
email: cielap@cielap.org
website: www.cielap.org
Relate
to other students. Most universities
have Aboriginal student associations
and resource centres. Visit these
centres to find out what they have
to offer. Also look into community
centres, friendship centres, and multi-cultural
centres.
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
