Job Description
Intern, Raising Global Climate Ambition, Climate Program
World Resources Institute
Washington, DC 20002
Remote
Job details
Salary
$15 - $18 an hour
Job Type
Full-time
Internship
Full Job Description
WRI Overview
World Resources Institute (WRI) is an independent, nonprofit global research organization that turns big ideas into action at the nexus of environment, economic opportunity and human well-being. We are working to address critical challenges that the world must overcome this decade in order to secure a sustainable future for people and the planet: climate change, energy, food, forests, water, sustainable cities, and the ocean.
Internships at WRI are learning experiences designed for current students, recent graduates, or other candidates who wish to gain knowledge about a specific area of our work. We strive to attract diverse, intellectually-driven candidates who have a passion for sustainability and development. WRI provides many internship opportunities throughout the year in all our programs.
WRI is committed to advancing gender and social equity for human well-being in our mission and applies this principle to our organizational and programmatic practices.
Climate Program Overview
WRI’s Climate Program helps businesses, policymakers and civil society at the local, national and international levels advance the deep structural shifts necessary to address climate change. We focus on ensuring near-term decisions align with our long-term temperature goals so all people can benefit from a safer world and thriving economies.
Over the last five years, WRI’s Climate Program has worked with partners to scale up national ambition toward the achievement of the Paris Agreement goals, with a specific focus on enhancing nationally determined contributions (NDCs), developing long-term strategies, and communicating net-zero targets. Momentum is growing. To date, 83 countries have indicated their intention to enhance their NDCs by COP26. In addition, 29 countries have formally submitted long-term climate strategies to the UNFCCC, and 59 countries have communicated net-zero targets.
Internship Summary
WRI’s Climate Program will continue work to assist and encourage countries to increase their ambition through enhanced NDCs, long-term strategies, and net-zero targets in 2021. This will contribute to the global Paris Agreement effort and the achievement of related 2030 Sustainable Development Goal outcomes. 2021 is a crucial year for raising climate ambition, as countries are expected to put forward both enhanced NDCs (their plans up to 2030) and long-term climate strategies (their plans up to 2050) in advance of the global COP26 convening scheduled for November of this year.
The intern will have an exciting opportunity to contribute to WRI’s work on NDC enhancement, long-term strategies, and net-zero targets in this very important year. This position represents a unique opportunity to deepen and evolve the understanding on national progress toward addressing climate change and contribute to analysis that has a meaningful impact on how countries embark on the process of enhancing their NDCs, developing long-term climate strategies, and communicating net-zero targets.
The intern will be involved in a broad array of tasks across all facets of the project, such as:
Supporting the development and implementation of long-term strategies in five countries (Argentina, China, India, Indonesia, and Mexico), which involves:
conducting background research on opportunities to raise climate ambition along with the achievement of national development objectives, and
engaging with global research organizations and UN agencies in the project, including developing meeting agendas and presentations, and helping to plan workshops.
Analyzing NDCs, long-term climate strategies, and net-zero targets as they are submitted to the UNFCCC, which involves:
robust quantification and analysis and subsequently reporting the results in the form of internal/external briefing notes and potentially blogs, and
supporting WRI’s Climate Watch, which tracks NDCs, long-term strategies, and net-zero targets as they are submitted.
Supporting communication and outreach efforts, including contributing to newsletters and social media content. This may also include distilling research products that WRI has already created, including case studies and expert perspectives, into communications products.
Learning Outcomes
The intern will gain experience in the following areas:
You will have opportunities to contribute writing to high-quality research and communications products
You will learn about carrying out in-depth assessments of national climate commitments
You will have opportunities to present research in internal meetings
You will have opportunities to learn about communicating research in exciting ways, including learning about innovative ways to use social media
You will support the online tracking of national climate commitments
Internship Qualifications
Currently pursuing or completed bachelors or master’s degree in public policy, economics, sciences, or other relevant field
Excellent quantitative skills and writing skills
A proactive and enthusiastic worker
Ability to handle multiple ongoing tasks and possession of knowhow of what to prioritize
A willingness and interest to read widely and learn about the subject matter
Comfortable interning remotely
General Internship Requirements
Applicants must have personal health insurance coverage.
U.S. work authorization is required for this opportunity. WRI does not sponsor interns for visas.
Compensation: The pay range for this internship opportunity is between $15-18/hour, commensurate with qualifications.
Duration: This is a full-time, summer internship with flexible start and end dates based on the student’s availability and need for the project.
How to Apply
Applicants must apply through the WRI Careers portal to be considered.
The World Resources Institute (http://www.wri.org) is an environmental and development research and policy organization that creates solutions to protect the Earth and improve people’s lives. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, it is WRI’s policy to recruit, hire, and provide opportunities for advancement in all job classifications without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, parental status, protected veteran status, or disability. WRI’s global agenda requires a staff that is diverse – with respect to race, gender, cultural, and international background. Diverse perspectives and experience enhance the way WRI selects and approaches issues, as well as the creativity and applicability of WRI's policy research and analysis. WRI, therefore, encourages applications from U.S. minorities, persons from other countries (especially developing nations), and from women of all backgrounds.