Environmental Economist
Other Titles
Natural Resource Economist, Principal Associate, Principal Research Economist, Resource Economist, Senior Economist
Conduct economic analysis related to environmental protection and use of the natural environment, such as water, air, land, and renewable energy resources. Evaluate and quantify benefits, costs, incentives, and impacts of alternative options using economic principles and statistical techniques.
Environmental Economists are responsible for studying various aspects of environmental resources such as resource extraction and usage. They seek to find ways of devising suitable economic incentives which may improve or protect the environment. In this role, they explore alternatives to mainstream natural environmental resources and determine the costs and other factors involved. They also recommend policies or regulations governing alternative fuel programmes. A part of their job is to advise government agencies and other entities on how best to create sustainable economic policies that help the environment. In doing so, they may also recommend appropriate incentives for environment-friendly usage of natural resources.
Write technical documents or academic articles to communicate study results or economic forecasts.
Conduct research on economic and environmental topics, such as alternative fuel use, public and private land use, soil conservation, air and water pollution control, and endangered species protection.
Assess the costs and benefits of various activities, policies, or regulations that affect the environment or natural resource stocks.
Collect and analyze data to compare the environmental implications of economic policy or practice alternatives.
Prepare and deliver presentations to communicate economic and environmental study results, to present policy recommendations, or to raise awareness of environmental consequences.
Develop programs or policy recommendations to achieve environmental goals in cost-effective ways.
Perform complex, dynamic, and integrated mathematical modeling of ecological, environmental, or economic systems.
Write research proposals and grant applications to obtain private or public funding for environmental and economic studies.
Conduct research to study the relationships among environmental problems and patterns of economic production and consumption.
Write social, legal, or economic impact statements to inform decision makers for natural resource policies, standards, or programs.
Develop environmental research project plans, including information on budgets, goals, deliverables, timelines, and resource requirements.
Develop economic models, forecasts, or scenarios to predict future economic and environmental outcomes.
Develop programs or policy recommendations to promote sustainability and sustainable development.
Demonstrate or promote the economic benefits of sound environmental regulations.
Develop systems for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting environmental and economic data.
Examine the exhaustibility of natural resources or the long-term costs of environmental rehabilitation.
Reading Comprehension→ Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Writing→ Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Critical Thinking→ Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Active Listening→ Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Judgment and Decision Making→ Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Active Learning→ Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Complex Problem Solving→ Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Mathematics→ Using mathematics to solve problems.
Monitoring→ Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Speaking→ Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Systems Analysis→ Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
Learning Strategies→ Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Systems Evaluation→ Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
Instructing→ Teaching others how to do something.
Management of Financial Resources→ Determining how money will be spent to get the work done, and accounting for these expenditures.
Coordination→ Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Persuasion→ Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
Social Perceptiveness→ Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Analyzing Data or Information→ Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
Getting Information→ Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Interacting With Computers→ Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
Processing Information→ Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
Thinking Creatively→ Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge→ Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others→ Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events→ Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
Making Decisions and Solving Problems→ Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
Training and Teaching Others→ Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates→ Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Communicating with Persons Outside Organization→ Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information→ Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People→ Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships→ Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work→ Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
Documenting/Recording Information→ Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
Provide Consultation and Advice to Others→ Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
Developing Objectives and Strategies→ Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
Coaching and Developing Others→ Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
Forecast economic, political, or social trends.
Research impacts of environmental conservation initiatives.
Appraise environmental impact of regulations or policies.
Collect environmental data or samples.
Communicate results of environmental research.
Prepare scientific or technical reports or presentations.
Develop environmental sustainability plans or projects.
Develop mathematical models of environmental conditions.
Research environmental impact of industrial or development activities.
Prepare proposal documents or grant applications.
Prepare information or documentation related to legal or regulatory matters.
Plan environmental research.
Advise others about environmental management or conservation.
Develop environmental research methods.
Promote environmental sustainability or conservation initiatives.
Interpret research or operational data.
Identify sustainable business practices.
Written Comprehension→ The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Mathematical Reasoning→ The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.
Written Expression→ The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
Inductive Reasoning→ The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Deductive Reasoning→ The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Oral Expression→ The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Near Vision→ The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Number Facility→ The ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly.
Oral Comprehension→ The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Problem Sensitivity→ The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Speech Clarity→ The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
Speech Recognition→ The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
Category Flexibility→ The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
Fluency of Ideas→ The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
Originality→ The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
Selective Attention→ The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
Information Ordering→ The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g. , patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Flexibility of Closure→ The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
Memorization→ The ability to remember information such as words, numbers, pictures, and procedures.
Economics and Accounting→ Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
Mathematics→ Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Language→ Knowledge of the structure and content of a language - English, French, Swahili et cetera - including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Law and Government→ Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
Computers and Electronics→ Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Education and Training→ Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Analytical or scientific software -- General algebraic modeling system; Estima Regression Analysis of Time Series RATS; IBM SPSS Statistics; SAS; StataCorp Stata;
The MathWorks MATLAB; Quantitative Micro Software EViews
Database user interface and query software -- e.g., MySQL; Microsoft Access
Development environment software -- e.g., C; Microsoft Visual Basic; Formula translation/translator FORTRAN
Electronic mail software -- e.g., Microsoft Outlook
Internet browser software -- e.g., Microsoft Edge; Mozilla Firefox; Google Chrome
Map creation software -- Geographic information system GIS software; Orbital Africa; ESRI ArcGIS software; Maptitude Mapping Software
Office suite software -- e.g., Corel WordPerfect Office; Microsoft Office
Presentation software --e.g., Corel Presentation; Microsoft PowerPoint
Spreadsheet software -- e.g., Corel QuattroPro; Microsoft Excel
Word processing software -- e.g., Wordperfect; Microsoft Word
Investigative→ Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
Enterprising→ Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
Conventional→ Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
Analytical Thinking→ Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
Integrity→ Job requires being honest and ethical.
Independence→ Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
Initiative→ Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Persistence→ Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
Innovation→ Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.
Attention to Detail→ Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Achievement/Effort→ Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
Dependability→ Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Stress Tolerance→ Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.
Adaptability/Flexibility→ Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
Cooperation→ Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Leadership→ Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
Self Control→ Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Achievement→ Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
Independence→ Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
Working Conditions→ Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.