A career roadmap for engineers and scientists committed to addressing the climate crisis. This path covers the full spectrum from environmental science and renewable energy to carbon capture, climate modelling, green infrastructure, and climate tech entrepreneurship — equipping you to build solutions that matter.
12 milestones in this roadmap
Step 1beginner6-8 weeks
Environmental Science Fundamentals
Develop a thorough understanding of Earth systems science including the carbon cycle, greenhouse gas dynamics, and ecosystem interactions.
Study CO2 removal technologies from post-combustion amine scrubbing to direct air capture and geological sequestration with economic viability assessment.
Curriculum
1Post-combustion capture: amine scrubbing thermodynamics and kinetics
2Pre-combustion capture and oxy-fuel combustion processes
3Direct air capture (DAC) sorbent and solvent systems
4Geological sequestration: reservoir characterisation and monitoring
Step 5intermediate4-6 weeks
Sustainable Materials & Circular Economy
Design materials and products for closed-loop systems using cradle-to-cradle principles, bio-based materials, and circular economy frameworks.
Curriculum
1Cradle-to-cradle design principles and material health
2Bio-based polymers (PLA, PHA) and biodegradable materials
3Design for disassembly, reuse, and remanufacturing
4Green concrete (geopolymers, SCMs) and low-carbon building materials
Step 6advanced8-10 weeks
Climate Modelling & Data Science
Use computational models and data science to analyse climate datasets, run GCM simulations, and interpret IPCC scenario projections.
Curriculum
1General Circulation Models (GCMs) and Earth system models
2CMIP6 experiment design and multi-model ensembles
3ERA5 reanalysis data access and manipulation with xarray
4Statistical and dynamical downscaling methods
5
Step 7intermediate6-8 weeks
Green Building & Infrastructure Design
Master sustainable building design including passive house standards, net-zero energy buildings, LEED certification, and building energy modelling.
Curriculum
1Passive House design principles (airtightness, thermal bridge-free)
2LEED and BREEAM certification credit categories
3Net-zero energy building design strategies
4Building energy modelling and annual simulation
Step 8advanced6-8 weeks
Electric Grid Modernisation & Smart Grids
Transform the electrical grid for distributed renewable generation with smart grid architectures, storage integration, and microgrid design.
Curriculum
1Smart grid architecture: AMI, SCADA, DMS, and EMS
2Power electronics for renewables (inverters, DC-DC converters)
3Grid-scale energy storage integration and dispatch
4Microgrid design, islanding, and reconnection protocols
Step 9intermediate6-8 weeks
Water Treatment & Resource Management
Study water and wastewater treatment processes, desalination technologies, and the water-energy nexus under climate change constraints.
Curriculum
1Coagulation-flocculation, sedimentation, and filtration unit processes
2Membrane technologies (RO, UF, NF) and fouling management
3Activated sludge kinetics and biological nutrient removal
4Desalination energy requirements and brine management
Step 10intermediate4-6 weeks
Environmental Policy & Regulatory Compliance
Navigate carbon pricing mechanisms, environmental impact assessments, emissions standards, and international climate agreements for regulatory compliance.
Curriculum
1Carbon pricing: cap-and-trade systems (EU ETS) and carbon taxes
2Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) methodology and reporting
3GHG Protocol corporate and product standards
4Paris Agreement Article 6 and carbon market mechanisms
Step 11intermediate6-8 weeks
Life Cycle Assessment & Carbon Accounting
Quantify environmental footprints using Life Cycle Assessment methodology and carbon accounting frameworks for Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions.
6Hybrid renewable system design and dispatch optimisation
Tools & Platforms
PVsystHOMER ProSystem Advisor Model (SAM)WindPRO / OpenFAST
5
CO2 mineralisation and enhanced weathering
6Techno-economic analysis and cost per tonne CO2 avoided
Tools & Platforms
Aspen Plus (process modelling)CMG (reservoir simulation)IEAGHG CCS databasesPython (techno-economic modelling)
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Step 4advanced6-8 weeks
Carbon Capture & Storage
Study CO2 removal technologies from post-combustion amine scrubbing to direct air capture and geological sequestration with economic viability assessment.
Curriculum
1Post-combustion capture: amine scrubbing thermodynamics and kinetics
2Pre-combustion capture and oxy-fuel combustion processes
3Direct air capture (DAC) sorbent and solvent systems
4Geological sequestration: reservoir characterisation and monitoring
5CO2 mineralisation and enhanced weathering
6Techno-economic analysis and cost per tonne CO2 avoided
Tools & Platforms
Aspen Plus (process modelling)CMG (reservoir simulation)IEAGHG CCS databasesPython (techno-economic modelling)
5
Industrial symbiosis and waste-as-feedstock networks