Summer 2025 Equitable Climate Intern (UC MERCED STUDENTS ONLY)

NRDC is a non-profit environmental advocacy organization. We use law, science, and the support of 3.1 million members and online activists to protect the planet's wildlife and wild places and to ensure the rights of all people to clean air, clean water, and healthy communities. NRDC was founded in 1970 and our people helped write some of America's bedrock environmental laws, including the Clean Water Act and many of the implementing regulations. Today, our team of more than 700 lawyers, scientists, economists, policy advocates, communications experts, and others work across the United States and the globe from our offices in Beijing; Bozeman, Montana; Chicago; New Delhi; New York; San Francisco; Santa Monica; and Washington, D.C.

NRDC is seeking a Summer Intern from UC Merced to work remotely or in NRDC's San Francisco office. We are currently looking for a passionate individual to bring their unique skills and perspective to help us develop equitable climate and energy policies that cut greenhouse gas emissions. As part of this internship, you will:

gain exposure to designing climate and clean energy policies;
1. help create memos, reports, graphics, and blogs based on research and data analysis that are used to advance our state and federal advocacy; and
2. work on projects that advocate for solutions whose benefits are accessible to all.

As a summer intern, you will be an integral part of NRDC, working as a critical member of our Climate & Clean Energy Program. You will gain exposure to a variety of topics and activities, while developing transferable skills. The following are some examples of activities you can expect throughout the internship:

• participate in staff meetings and learn how a large non-profit operates;
• participate in meetings with key partners from other environmental and social justice organizations and potentially with state policymakers;
• learn the regulatory processes of state pollution control agencies where much of our advocacy occurs;
• interact with other NRDC staff to widen your exposure to various projects and programs;
• enhance analytical research ability;
• deepen written and oral communication skills; and
• leave with completed projects (e.g., blogs, memos, graphics, etc.) that can be added to your professional resume.

Required

• Commitment to NRDC's mission and values.
• You must be a currently enrolled at or graduating from UC Merced.

Preferred

• You are enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program that directly or indirectly relates to climate change, energy policy, equity, and/or environmental justice.
• You are interested in learning about designing equitable policy solutions that address environmental pollution.
• You enthusiastic about teamwork, creative, and resourceful.

NRDC is committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion, both in our work and in our workplace. We believe that celebrating and actively welcoming diverse voices and perspectives is essential to solving the planet's most pressing environmental problems, and we encourage applications from candidates whose identities have been historically under-represented in the environmental movement.

We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

This position is a paid internship. It is funded with a stipend of $6,000 paid bi-weekly over the course of 10 weeks.

The incumbent will not qualify as an employee, fellow, volunteer, or independent contractor of NRDC, nor will the incumbent be guaranteed employment at the end of the internship term.

Our offices are open and we are operating in a hybrid model.

As a science-based organization, NRDC aims to do our part to help contain the COVID-19 public health crisis. For the sake of health, safety, and equity, we ask that people be vaccinated unless they have an approved medical or religious accommodation or other exemption in accordance with state and local law. We consider a person to be vaccinated two weeks after receiving one full course of a CDC-approved vaccine. In accordance with state or local law, new hires will be asked to attest to vaccination. Those wishing to do so may request medical or religious accommodations or other exemptions. NRDC treats all vaccination-related data confidentially, in keeping with local, state, and federal laws.