About the program:

WRI’s Climate, Economics, and Finance (CEF) Program leads WRI’s work on transforming economic, financial, and governance systems globally and on achieving WRI’s climate goals. Its work is divided into three pillars: (1) raising ambition aligned with global goals, (2) implementing action on the ground, and (3) shifting the economic and financial “rules of the game,” or architecture. This intern will work specifically within our ‘Ambition’ pillar to advance core pillar objectives.

This is a hybrid position which requires 8 days per month in the Washington, DC office. Existing work authorization is required at the time of application submission as WRI is unable to sponsor any visa work sponsorship for this position. To be eligible for this position, you must be a resident of DC, Maryland or Virginia at the start of employment.

What you will do:

WRI’s CEF Program seeks a detail-oriented, technical, well-organized, and highly motivated intern with a research background that will report to a Research Associate II.

The successful candidate will support research, technical analysis, and project management efforts within the CEF Program, with a focus on projects that aim to raise national climate ambition. This includes supporting the development and implementation of countries’ near-term and long-term climate plans under the Paris Agreement, as well as assessing the extent to which these plans are driving tangible mitigation outcomes.

The intern will be supported by a team consisting of senior associates, research associates, project managers, and project coordinators who are working together to advance global climate change mitigation and development outcomes.

The intern’s work will span across the following activities:

Research & technical analysis (80% time):

• Conduct desk research and literature reviews to gather information about countries’ near-term (NDC) and long-term (LT-LEDS) climate and sectoral transition policies under the UNFCCC, as well as other relevant national climate policy documents

• Conduct technical analyses to extract and structure data from policy documents and apply quantitative and qualitative research methods (e.g., regression analysis, comparative case studies, process tracing) to assess the impact and efficacy of climate and sectoral transition policies

• Review academic studies and grey literature to extract ambitious ‘benchmarks’ against which to compare countries’ climate targets

• Assist with and/or co-author reports, briefs, and data products

• Assist with and/or co-author blog posts and other communication documents

Project management and country engagement (20% time):

• Support day-to-day project management tasks including notetaking, drafting summaries of meetings, and collecting information from partners on their activities

• Track project deliverables under the supervision of a project manager

• Assist in preparing outreach materials and analysis to inform country-level policy discussions and technical assistance efforts

Internship learning outcomes:

• Gain hands-on experience analyzing national climate policies, including NDCs and LT-LEDS, and understanding how they translate into real-world mitigation outcomes

• Develop and apply quantitative and qualitative research skills in a policy-relevant context, with research outputs to be used directly by governments to inform on-the-ground climate policy

• Increase familiarity with academic and grey literature on climate and sectoral transformation modelling

• Strengthen professional writing and communication skills through contributions to high-impact reports, briefs, and public-facing materials

• Gain experience working on collaborative, multi-stakeholder projects, including coordination with international partners and interdisciplinary teams

• Develop project management skills, including tracking deliverables, synthesizing inputs from partners, and supporting the end-to-end execution of research projects

• Gain exposure to country-level climate policy processes and international collaboration by supporting engagement with government and partner organizations

What you will need:

• Completed Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Policy, Environmental Science, Environmental Studies, Economics, Engineering, the Natural Sciences, Public Policy, Data Analysis, or related field; completed or nearly completed Master’s Degree preferred

• Demonstrated research experience, including conducting literature reviews, synthesizing findings, and translating complex information into clear insights (e.g., through academic research, internships, or professional experience)

• Strong technical and analytical skills, including experience working with data analysis tools (e.g., Excel, R, Python, or similar tools), as well as familiarity with methods such as regression analysis, policy analysis, and comparative process tracing

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to produce clear, concise, and well-structured reports, briefs, and other written materials for diverse audiences

• Familiarity with national and international climate change and energy policies

• Knowledge of the UNFCCC negotiating process a plus

• Ability to present complex information in a clear and concise manner

• Ability to handle multiple priorities in a deadline-driven professional environment

• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work collaboratively with teams

Compensation:

The pay for this internship opportunity is $20/hour for undergrads; $22/hour for graduates and $24/hour for PhD students.

Length of contract:

This is a full-time, 6-month internship with a flexible start and end date.

Location:

• This is a hybrid internship that will be based out of our Washington D.C. office.

• You will be required to work in the Washington D.C. office at least 8 days per month.

How to Apply:

Please submit a resume with a cover letter by May 6, 2026. Applicants must apply through the WRI Careers portal to be considered. We may close for applications sooner if we receive a high volume of applications from qualified candidates.

About us:

World Resources Institute works to improve people’s lives, protect and restore nature and stabilize the climate. As an independent research organization, we leverage our data, expertise and global reach to influence policy and catalyze change across systems like food, land and water; energy; and cities. Our 2,000+ staff work on the ground in more than a dozen focus countries and with partners in over 50 nations.

Internships at WRI are learning experiences designed for current students, recent graduates, and 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, racial, and social equity for human well-being in our mission and applies this principle to our organizational and programmatic practices.

Our mission and values:

WRI’s mission is to move human society to live in ways that protect Earth’s environment and its capacity to provide for the needs and aspirations of current and future generations.

Our values are shared ideals that bind us together: Independence, Integrity, Impact, Partnership and Care.

Our culture:

WRI is committed to advancing gender and social equity for human well-being in our mission, including equal opportunities in employment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, caste, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, or protected Veteran status.

Our People team carefully reviews all applications.

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