Sustainable Development: Key Goals and Career Areas to Explore

Key takeaways

• Sustainable development describes the holistic, systems-based approach that ensures sustainability.

• It aims to steer humanity toward a sustainable future that doesn’t deplete our natural resources and ensures future generations will continue to thrive.

• If you're interested in pursuing a values-based career path, there are many areas to explore.

Learn about the practice of sustainable development, why it's important, and potential career paths to consider. Afterward, learn about the key challenges and pathways to sustainable development through Columbia University's course The Age of Sustainable Development.

What is sustainable development?

Sustainable development is a holistic, systems-based approach to ensuring sustainability—a paradigm for thinking about balancing environmental, economic, and social needs for both the present and the future.

The famed Brundtland Commission report defines sustainable development as “the ability to make development sustainable to ensure that it meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” [1]. That means answering the question, “How can we continue to develop and grow while ensuring we don’t deplete our natural resources?”

Business, government, and nonprofit sectors frequently use the term to describe the processes and pathways necessary to balance economic growth, environmental stewardship, and social inclusion.

Sustainable development vs. sustainability

Though the words are sometimes used interchangeably, there is a difference in their meaning. Sustainability is often viewed as a long-term goal, whereas sustainable development encompasses the various processes and pathways to achieve it [2].

Learn more about sustainable development from world-renowned economics professor Jeffrey Sachs: 

What are Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)?

In 2015, the United Nations (UN) shared the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, a “blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet” [3]. The UN pledged to adhere to 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which call for global partnership by its member states. 

These SDGs recognize that ending poverty and hunger is just as important as access to quality education, job opportunities, and infrastructure in the quest to tackle climate change and preserve our oceans and forests.

Examples of sustainable development

Sustainable development can seem like an abstract concept without real-life examples to bring it to life. You may already be familiar with some of these:

• Green spaces: A prime example of sustainable development in the real world is the presence of green spaces. They are the antidote to skyscrapers. Parks, lakes, and forests are essential to cooling cities. Trees produce oxygen and help filter out air pollution. Governments that design cities to prioritize green spaces often promote walking or cycling for commuting, further encouraging healthy lifestyles and overall well-being.

• Solar energy: Renewable energy is a hot topic globally (literally). Using the sun’s energy to power electric grids can reduce emissions from power plants and other pollutants. You may have spotted solar panels on a neighbor’s rooftop. This technology continues to become more affordable and is sometimes subsidized by the government, making it competitive with the cost of electricity generated by fossil fuels. 

• Sustainable finance: Green spaces and solar energy may come to mind straight away when you think of “sustainability,” but sustainable finance is another widely impactful sustainable development practice. It covers a range of activities, from funding green energy projects to investing in companies that demonstrate strong social values, such as those that include women on their boards of directors. 

6 sustainable development career areas

Sustainable development is an ambitious goal that encompasses many broad fields, so there are plenty of jobs you can choose from if you're interested in finding a career that supports this critical approach.

1. Non-profit management

There are numerous non-profit organizations (NPOs) that contribute to the achievement of the SDGs. You may have heard of the big ones, such as the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) or the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. 

If you are passionate about gender equality, peace and conflict, or nature conservation, you can find jobs working as a monitoring and evaluation specialist, communications officer, or program coordinator. For most of these, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree in a related subject. 

As you advance in your career, you may be promoted to manager or director-level positions. You can also choose to become a consultant in a niche area, such as sustainability or a specific function, like monitoring and evaluation.

2. Public policy

When it comes to sustainable development, many big decisions are made at the policy level. If you envision yourself in a career in politics, or perhaps at a think tank, government agency, or research organization, then public policy could be the route for you. You could be a policy researcher or a politician.

This field tends to favor those with a master’s or a PhD, so you’ll have to commit to several years of education. Contributing to national or worldwide policies can be incredibly fulfilling, because you’ll have the power to make influential decisions.

3. Law

Law is another broad field where you can contribute to sustainable development. With a law degree, you can become a lawyer, work for an NPO or in academia, become a journalist, or work as legal counsel in a private company. Some legal jobs lean more toward the humanitarian side, such as working as a public defender or advocating for climate change policies.

4. Urban planning

As our world becomes increasingly urbanized, strategizing cities for optimal human conditions can be a fascinating and challenging field to explore. You could become an urban planner specializing in community development or historic preservation, collaborating with public officials, engineers, architects, lawyers, and real estate developers.

5. Education

Within education, schoolteachers can practice “greening” their curricula by infusing sustainability wherever possible, such as through field trips to community gardens. Placing women and girls at the forefront of economies, education, and leadership can drive more equitable decision-making. As a teacher or professor, you can advocate for gender equity in the classroom, along with other sustainable actions.

6. Data science

Data science can be applied to nearly any field, which means you could become a data analyst or data engineer who works on making data more accessible for policymakers. You can also apply data science toward climate change by working for a sustainable company or organization, such as one that uses satellite data to measure air quality. Data can enable more efficient, evidence-based decision-making that measures progress on the SDGs.

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