Will climate jobs in the U.S. disappear?

by Hannah Paulson, Consultant at TCC

Hannah collecting plant species data in the high-altitude grasslands outside Quito, Ecuador.

As I’ve been at work here in the UAE, I look back at my recent role in the U.S. and wonder if it will be non-existent in the coming weeks.

I got my start in sustainability from the conservation biology field. I studied in Ecuador and Galapagos and went on to do countless internships studying birds, butterflies, plants, and macroinvertebrates before wishing I could just work indoors. After pursuing my Master's in Environmental Sciences in the U.S., I worked in state government on coastal resilience with Sea Grant and NOAA’s Coastal Management Program, bridging federal policies, funding, and local leaders to protect shorelines and infrastructure from climate threats. Moving to Dubai and transitioning to The Climate Consultancy, I shifted toward sustainable business practices, finding purpose in a values-driven team working on climate solutions in the private sector.

Here are a few things I’ve noticed about how environmental work differs between the U.S. and the UAE in my short time as a Dubai resident.

In the U.S., environmental science is deeply intertwined with political leadership. Each administration can dramatically shift priorities, restructure departments, or, in the latest case, freeze federal grant funding across the government (an act which has now been rescinded).

Long-term planning becomes tough, as policies gain traction under one administration only to be scaled back by the next. But those who’ve been in the field long enough will say the work in the U.S. pushes ahead, regardless of the administration. In many ways, we never could rely on the systems that politicized these subjects to be the one that fixes them. In the U.S., It’s always been about the power of community-led strategies.

Politics shaped how we talk to communities. In the face of misinformation, “climate change” becomes a loaded term, forcing careful wording both in the documentation and to keep discussions open to prevent alienating partners in conversation. Traditionally science-driven topics like forest and wildfire management, air pollution regulation, and renewable energy generation are liable to get fiery reactions in certain rooms.

The UAE operates in a different paradigm. While a major oil user and exporter, leadership has embraced diversification—not just as a business strategy but as an environmental imperative. There is a broad acknowledgement that oil is a finite resource and that economic resilience requires investment in renewables, sustainable infrastructure, and technological innovation. While the motivations may be more pragmatic than ideological, the result is a growing focus on sustainability without the same political constraints found in the U.S.

Banding a sooty antbird (Myrmeciza fortis) in Yasuni Tiputini Biodiversity Station.

This isn’t to say the UAE is immune to challenges. Like any country, environmental initiatives are shaped by economic and political realities. But what stands out is a sense of momentum and stability. Large-scale projects, from renewable energy developments to mangrove conservation initiatives, are moving forward with a clear direction. There’s a national drive toward sustainability that, at least in my experience, doesn’t get bogged down in the same suppression and misinformation schemes stalling progress in the U.S.

In the UAE, the challenge is different—it’s about harnessing the country’s ambitious vision, aligning it with global sustainability goals, and attracting private investments.

The state of affairs feels confusing. While the U.S. is in the throws of a leadership shift, the EU continues to implement regulations and reporting measures. Other major emitters like China, the GCC and India invest heavily in renewables in light of anticipating a changing market that confronts their reliance on fossil fuels.

Both systems have their complexities, but one thing is clear: the future of environmental science depends on stability, long-term commitment, and a recognition that sustainability isn’t just an environmental concern—it’s an economic and strategic necessity.

What do you think the role of the U.S. will be in the coming years as a high-emitter and low- responsibility global leader?