Energy and Climate Intern (Spring Session) -

The United Nations Foundation links the UN’s work with others around the world, mobilizing the energy and expertise of business and non-governmental organizations to help the UN tackle issues including climate change, global health, peace and security, women's empowerment, poverty eradication, energy access, and U.S.-UN relations.

The Foundation’s Energy and Climate program has worked for more than a decade to help move the world toward a cleaner, climate-friendly energy future. Over time, it has emerged as a respected platform for bringing together environmental groups, academics, business leaders and the UN to develop strategies for a new energy future. 

The internship will involve assignments from the following program areas, in addition to more general support, in roughly equal measure:   

Sustainable Energy for All

The UN Foundation is supporting a global initiative of the UN Secretary-General, Sustainable Energy for All.  This initiative focuses on the achievement of three interlinked 2030 objectives: Ensuring universal access to modern energy services; doubling the rate of improvement in energy efficiency; and doubling the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.

In support of Sustainable Energy for All, the UN Foundation hosts an international Energy Access Practitioner Network, comprised of more than 1,800 private sector, social enterprises, and civil society organizations from 191 countries, working to deliver energy services in a range of developing country contexts; and is leading an effort with the World Health Organization and UN Women to improve women’s health care through enhanced access to modern energy services.

To support the Sustainable Energy for All objective of doubling the global rate of energy efficiency improvement by 2030, the UN Foundation helped develop a Global Energy Efficiency Accelerator Platform to encourage adoption of best-practice policies, programs, and incentives at the city, state, and regional levels. Formally launched at the UN Climate Summit in September 2014, this initiative seeks to mobilize technical and financial assistance for sub-national governments to improve energy efficiency in key sectors, including appliance and lighting energy standards, district energy, vehicle fuel efficiency, industrial energy productivity, and efficient buildings.

Energy Future Coalition

The Energy Future Coalition is a nonpartisan public policy initiative that seeks to speed the transition to a new energy economy in the United States.  Combining expertise and advocacy, the Coalition brings together business, labor, and environmental groups to identify new directions in energy policy with broad political support. 

The Coalition’s main initiatives are: 1) Americans for a Clean Energy Grid, supporting policies to modernize the nation’s electric power network and unlock clean energy and economic opportunities across the country; 2) Rebuilding America, helping to foster a robust, self-sustaining energy efficiency industry that will cut the energy waste in 50 million U.S. homes and businesses by 2020; 3) 25x’25, a renewable energy initiative in the agricultural community, focusing on the goal that the U.S. will supply 25% of its energy needs with renewable energy by 2025; and 4) Utility 2.0, exploring the contours of the utility of the future.

Not Applicable

In support of Sustainable Energy for All, the intern will:

• Learn about the Sustainable Energy for All objectives through conducting research on related issues.
• Assist the Energy Access Practitioner Network with deliverables, meeting notes and other logistics.
• Support staff by preparing background materials and conducting research as necessary.
• Assist with managing program data, including contacts, materials, records, etc.
• Support the development of proposals, comprehensive program materials, and letters of inquiry.
• Provide administrative support as needed.
• Other duties as assigned.

In support of the Energy Future Coalition, the intern will:

• Gain knowledge by conducting research on behalf of the initiatives listed in the Energy Future Coalition overview.
• Assist with drafting short papers and presentations.
• Contribute to the Coalition blog, managing and expanding the Coalition’s social media presence.
• Assist staff to coordinate field campaigns and events.
• Other administrative duties as assigned.

The intern will also help support the Vice President, Senior Director and Executive Assistant with other assignments, including but not limited to:

• Providing operational and logistics support for internal and external meetings, working with the Operations and IT teams as directed.
• Routing proposals, agreements and reports on behalf of the Global Partnerships team.
• Attending events related to energy and climate programs.
• Other administrative duties as assigned.

• Candidate must be enrolled in a degree-granting program during the internship or must be a recent graduate (within 8 months of graduation) of a college or university with a demonstrated interest in the UN and international development.
• Must have strong written and communication skills.
• Ability to multi-task and handle competing priorities.