While the United Kingdom has seen job losses throughout the finance and property sectors, there has been a rise in jobs related to climate change and corporate social responsibility.

Acre Resources, a U.K. recruitment firm, reports it has seen a 20 percent increase in the number of green collar jobs from May 2007 to May 2008. Jobs related to energy reduction and emissions management have alone increased by 180 percent.

“Big companies, from retailers to media companies and even petrochemical firms, have made very public pledges around their approach to green issues," said Managing Director Andrew Cartland. "They've committed to targets around reducing carbon emissions and developing more socially responsible products. Despite pressures indicated by a looming recession, it is too late for most companies to renege on their environmental commitments."

Acre has also found that the average salary for jobs related to climate change has increased 14 percent to £49,000 ($96,000), the average salary among all jobs in the environmental sector has increased five percent to £34,000 ($67,000) and jobs in corporate social responsibility earn from £40,000 ($78,000) to as high as £120,000 ($236,000).