Why aren’t more South Asians working in the UK’s environmental sector?

As the United Kingdom moves toward a greener future, one key question remains: are the people making decisions about Britain's greener future representative of the communities they serve?
Britain’s environmental sector continues to expand with new opportunities emerging across various subsectors including renewable energy, sustainable finance, conservation and climate policy.
According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), there were approximately 652,100 green jobs in Britain in 2024, that’s an increase of nearly 28% since 2015.
However, while there has been significant growth in green jobs, ethnic diversity within the sector remains severely limited. Recent research conducted by Middlesex University indicated that 89% of green jobs throughout Britain are occupied by white employees and representation from minority communities remains extremely low.
This creates an uncomfortable contradiction for British South Asians who are disproportionately affected by climate change in their countries of origin through floods, droughts, heat waves, water scarcity and pollution. Yet they continue to be significantly underrepresented in many environmental occupations and leadership positions in the UK.
Why does this gap exist?
One factor contributing to this gap may be due to how environmental careers are perceived within many of these communities. Historically, British Asian families have typically encouraged children to pursue careers which provide stability, status and financial security such as medicine, engineering, law or finance. Compared to these types of careers, environmental careers are often viewed as unstable, activist-oriented or less financially rewarding.
However, this perception is becoming increasingly outdated. The current green economy provides opportunities for careers in sustainable business, green technology, urban planning, climate finance, renewable energy, environmental law and corporate sustainability. These sectors will continue to expand as the UK moves toward achieving net zero.
Representation also plays a significant role. Many environmental organizations in the UK still do not have a diverse workforce in terms of race/ethnicity, especially in leadership roles and public-facing roles which are often perceived as predominantly white and middle-class. Asad Rehman, former Executive Director of War on Want and a prominent advocate for climate justice, has discussed how the absence of visible role models can influence whether individuals feel included in environmental spaces. If young British Asians do not see people like themselves represented in the sector, they may simply assume that it is not a sector that they can easily enter.
Disconnects can occur early on. Geography, social class and cultural familiarity can all impact whether or not individuals have access to natural environments/countryside spaces and environmental volunteering opportunities. Many ethnic minority families living in urban areas find that environmentalism appears irrelevant to their daily lives; housing costs, rising utility bills, etc. Yet paradoxically, many South Asian households already practice sustainable behavior in ways that are rarely recognized as "environmentalism."
Multi-generational living reduces resource consumption. Vegetarianism often results in lower carbon emissions. Repairing clothes, reusing containers and minimizing waste are long-standing practices in many British Asian households. Ultimately, sustainability has existed in South Asian culture long before it became fashionable.
The challenge today is including these communities in shaping Britain's green future. A more diverse environmental sector would not only improve representation metrics; it would enhance climate action itself. Different communities experience environmental problems differently. Air pollution, inadequate home insulation and extreme heat disproportionately affect ethnic minority and lower-income communities in British cities. Without diverse perspectives at decision-making tables, these experiences risk going unheeded.
There are signs of progress. Young British Asians are becoming increasingly engaged with climate issues through sustainable fashion, ethical business practices, vegetarianism/plant-based diets and activism. Social media has also provided increased visibility for South Asian environmental voices which were previously absent from mainstream discussions. The green transition provides a tremendous opportunity for the next generation of British Asians, not only to engage in environmental careers but also to redefine what environmental leadership looks like in modern Britain.
Because building a sustainable future should not be solely dependent on one demographic group, it should reflect the diversity of the society it intends to protect.