Environmental Planner

Introduction

Environmental Planning as a Green Job

Environmental planning is a relatively new field of study that aims to merge the practice of town/urban planning with the concerns of environmentalism. Town/urban planners have traditionally factored in economic development, transportation, sanitation, and other services into their decisions; environmental planners add sustainable (social, ecological & economic) outcomes as important factors in the decision-making process.

Work Activities

A key part of an Environmental planner’s job is the encouragement of sustainable development, green building technologies, and the preservation of environmentally sensitive areas. As an environmental planner you would:

Liaise with clients and regulatory authorities
Assess the risks and liabilities associated with sites and development such as the impact on the environment:, wildlife conservation, increased pollution, protection of areas of natural beauty
Provide advice on legislation including environmental impact assessment (EIA), environmental audits, waste management
Preparation of concise, informative reports

Personal Qualities and Skills

You need to show evidence of the following:

Good interpersonal, team working and communication skills
Experience of preparing environmental statements and impact assessments
Able to work independently with minimal supervision
Visual awareness
A working knowledge of GIS mapping programmes (Info Map and ArcMap)
Good analytical report writing and presentation skills
Experience working in or exposure to a related sector such as Town Planning

Pay and Opportunities

Environmental planners earn in the range of £18,500 - £27,000 a year, rising to £35,000 - £46,500. Higher earners can make around £51,000 a year.