Climate Change

Explore the most impactful and neglected opportunities to prevent extreme climate change and how you most effectively can contribute to preventing catastrophic global warming.

Introduction to impactful climate change initiatives

Why it matters?

Climate change is a well-known threat to our planet. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report emphasizes that global warming risks seriously worsening the conditions for life on earth. If we do not reduce greenhouse gas emissions more than under the Paris Agreement, scientists estimate a 50% risk of temperature increases of 3.5ºC and a 10% risk of increases above 4.7ºC. With higher warming, we risk serious outcomes – more frequent and more severe floods, famines, fires, and droughts — leading to a lack of food and water, large movements of vulnerable populations, as the world’s poorest people will be affected the most, and reduced global stability. 

There is also a non-negligible probability that the temperature will rise even more, especially if we do not reduce emissions according to existing agreements. This would mean that the consequences worsen further, for example by increasing the risks of other global catastrophic risks. In the most extreme scenarios, climate change risks contributing to the collapse of human civilization.

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Emissions-by-sector--pie-charts
Source: OurWorldInData

Career in Climate change mitigation

By researching or working on implementing the most neglected and promising solutions, you can play an important role in mitigating the worst-case climate scenarios and contribute to a more sustainable future.

Research Roles

Research Roles

Carbon removal researcher
Cultivated meat scientist
Researcher on extreme risks from climate change

Policy roles

Policy roles

Climate policy advisor
Alternative protein advocate
Carbon taxing specialist

Analytical roles

Analytical roles

Data analyst
Climate modeling specialist
Green energy analyst

Leading Organizations

Globally (EU/US)

Clean Air Task Force

Clean Air Task Force

Pushing the change in technologies and policies needed to get to a zero-emissions, high-energy planet at an affordable cost.

European Commission

The Directorate-General for Climate Action (DG CLIMA) at the European Commission

Formulating and implementing EU climate policies and strategies, aiming for the EU to become climate-neutral and climate resilient by 2050.

European Energy Agency

European Environment Agency

Providing sound, independent information on the environment for those involved in developing, adopting, and implementing the best energy practices.

Founders Pledge

Founders Pledge

Leading thorough research to select the most effective interventions aimed at minimizing expected climate damage and advising donors to give as effectively as possible.

Carbon 180

Carbon 180

A NGO working with policy change, environmental justice, and science & innovation.

Third Way

ThirdWay

Engaging in high-impact advocacy campaigns that combine rigorous policy research with a unique and incisive understanding of the vast American middle.

Swedish organizations

FORMAS

Formas

A Swedish government research council that funds and supports research for sustainable development, focusing on environmental, social, and economic sustainability.

Stockholm Resilience Center

Stockholm Resilience Center

Advancing research on resilience and sustainability in social-ecological systems, with a focus on understanding and managing complex, interconnected global challenges.

SEI stockholm environment institute

SEI

An international think tank that conducts research and policy analysis to address global environmental and sustainability challenges.

Energimyndigheten

Swedish Energy Agency

The National Centre for Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) at the Swedish Energy Agency is a hub that promotes research, development, and implementation of CCS technologies to reduce carbon emissions and combat climate change.

From Vision to Transformation: Stories of Impact

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Ernesto Diaz

Finance & Operations Manager

Ernesto, driven by a passion for sustainability and existential risk mitigation, transitioned from a career in agricultural engineering to a high-impact operations role at Future Matters, a think tank addressing global threats like climate change and AI. Through EA, Ernesto discovered his ability to contribute behind the scenes, ensuring organizations run smoothly while advancing solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges.

Ernesto Diaz

Finance & Operations Manager

ClimateChange
Kristian Rönn

Climate Tech Entrepreneur

Kristian, CEO and co-founder of Normative, left his role at the Future of Humanity Institute to launch a company that helps large corporations measure their climate impact through advanced software. Driven by the realization that changing financial incentives is key to tackling climate change, Kristian’s work empowers businesses to recognize and reduce their environmental costs, contributing to a more sustainable future.

Kristian Rönn

Climate Tech Entrepreneur

ClimateChange
#TAKE ACTION

Where to start?

Create a tailored plan for your career

Explore EA Sweden’s free career guide, helping you create a robust plan on how to contribute to mitigating climate change.

Skill up with UN CC:Learn

Choose from dozens of free courses offered by The One UN Climate Change Learning Partnership (UN CC:Learn) to learn new skills and receive certification.

Picture of two people in personal impact career coaching session carried out by Effective Altruism Sweden

Apply for individual coaching

Get input on your career plan, or on a specific career decision, through individual coaching with EA Sweden. It’s free of charge.

Additional resources and learning

Job board

Find open positions

Use Probably Good’s job board to find open roles tackling climate change that fit your skills and interests.

Cause area profile

Learn more

Explore 80,000 Hours’ extensive analysis of a career in climate change.

Podcast

Understand the data

Listen to Founders Pledge’s Climate Lead Johannes Ackva: “On unfashionable climate interventions that work, and fashionable ones that don't”.

Newsletter

Stay up to date

Receive the latest news, insights and research recommendations in the Effective Environmentalism’s newsletter.

TED Talk

TED Talk

Watch Our World in Data’s Lead Researcher Hanna Ritchie’s TED Talk “Are We the Last Generation — or the First Sustainable One?”

Donate to effective climate organizations

Donate to climate causes

Explore Founders Pledge’s Climate Change Fund and learn more about what charities are the most effective in tackling climate change.

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