Energy and Environment Internship
American Progress is a leader in the shifting debate on climate change and energy by driving research and policy toward a more comprehensive discussion on sustainable economic growth and our collective global future.
Interns working with the American Progress Energy and Environment team have the opportunity to complete substantive work across the team’s four main focuses: international energy and climate policy, domestic energy and climate policy, oceans policy, and public lands policy. Within this framework, interns will develop skills and experience to contribute effectively to the national climate and energy conversation on the clean energy future, natural resources management, conservation, and adaptation and resilience as they relate to climate change.
Candidates who apply for an Energy and Environment internship may indicate in their cover letter their interest in one of the following policy areas:
- International climate policy: The International Climate Policy subteam seeks bilateral, multilateral, and nongovernmental solutions to mitigate climate change and increase investment in resilience to chart a more sustainable global future.
- Domestic energy policy: The Domestic Energy Policy subteam views addressing the climate crisis as an extraordinary opportunity to reinvigorate the national economy through investments in sustainable energy sources and smart community resilience solutions. By urging government and private industry to incorporate climate change action into strategic decision-making, the Domestic Energy Policy subteam maintains that this transformation can be structured to ensure opportunities and shared prosperity for all Americans.
- Ocean policy: The Ocean Policy subteam works to generate and advance smart policy that promotes the ecological and environmental health of oceans and coasts in tandem with prosperous economies. The Ocean Policy intern may engage in issues including sustainable fisheries, aquaculture, coastal resilience and adaptation, coastal ecosystem restoration, marine conservation and ocean planning, offshore energy, and Arctic policy.
- Public lands and natural resource policy: The Public Lands project works to develop and advance progressive natural resource and energy policies for America’s public lands with a focus on conserving parks, forests, and waters for the use and enjoyment of current and future generations. With an expanding population, disappearing open spaces, and a changing climate, the protection and balanced management of America’s public lands is more important than ever to growing the economy, enriching Americans’ quality of life, and building a clean energy future.
Energy and Environment interns will contribute to the core work of the team, completing day-to-day assignments in addition to more extensive research projects. Interns will work closely with one or more staff members to help them foster knowledge of policy areas, government operations, and confidence working in a fast-paced office setting. Typical responsibilities include:
- Writing memos, blog posts, columns, event summaries, and reports
- Carrying out web-based research on issue areas
- Compiling and manipulating data in Excel
- Rapid-response communications
- Updating fact sheets, talking points, and documents on topics of current pertinence
- Enhancing the team’s social media presence
Other duties may include conducting targeted research and reporting on policy meetings, seminars, hearings, and lectures. Whenever possible, interns are encouraged to write on the subject of their choice either as a contributor to a larger final piece or as an individual author of a column for the website.