Updated April 2022
Climate change is one of the most pressing issues of our time, and you can play a direct role in helping the world overcome this crisis through a variety of climate change fellowships. This list highlights opportunities that fund climate change-related projects and research for environmental advocates at all career levels.
Included are climate change fellowships for global leaders to pursue advocacy, journalism, scientific research, conservation, business, and international exchange between countries including Scotland, Germany, Australia, and the United States.
1. Science to Action Fellowship
The Science to Action Fellowship supports graduate students in applying scientific research related to climate change’s impact on fish, wildlife, or ecosystems. During the fellowship year and beyond, Fellows benefit from collaborations with professional mentors and exposure to high-priority, real-world challenges in the natural resources policy arena. The program is open to Master’s and Doctoral students at any Climate Science Center consortium institution. Fellows receive a financial award of $10,000 each.
2. Climate Justice Fellowship
Culture Push seeks applicants for its Climate Justice Fellowship, which provides selected Fellows with the training, support, and resources to develop a project that addresses environmental racism and climate justice. Project proposals should combine community, problem-solving, innovation, and hands-on civic participation.
3. Merlyn Climate Grants
Merlyn Climate Grants offers funding for individuals between the age of 13 and 30 who have a clear vision for impacting climate and environmental justice, support for science, and a free press. Applicants may request between $500 and $3,000 for their project, and must be based in New England or New York. Grants may be awarded for activities that have the potential to make a positive impact on the fellow’s community – such as carbon footprint reduction, community action, artistic and dramatic productions, organizing, training, and outreach.
4. International Climate Protection Fellowship
This fellowship allows young climate experts from developing countries to spend a year in Germany working on a research-based project of their choice in the field of climate protection and climate-related resource conservation. Fellows are free to choose their own hosts. Intensive German language study provided, as well as travel and a monthly stipend.
5. LeadNext Fellows Program
LeadNext builds a vibrant network of future leaders aged 18-25 from across Asia and the United States and supports their growth, impact, and capacity to address today’s greatest challenges. LeadNext Fellows are dynamic emerging leaders from any sector with a commitment to creative approaches to addressing issues such as climate change, inequality, injustice, poverty, or other pressing issues.
6. Annual Reviews Global Climate Change Fellowship
The Annual Reviews Global Climate Change Fellowship offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to the development of accurate, useful and engaging products and services that bridge climate change research to policy, industry, education and the public at large. Applicants are scientists with a minimum of a Master’s degree and 3 years of research experience. A PhD is strongly preferred. The research should be in a scientific discipline related to climate change including physical, biological, health, social or economic sciences. A demonstrable interest in integrating and disseminating knowledge is an advantage.
7. Climate Adaptation Scientists of Tomorrow Program
To advance climate adaptation science and increase diversity, equity, and inclusion in STEM fields, the Climate Adaptation Scientists of Tomorrow Program brings undergraduate students, graduate students, and faculty together with CASC partners to cultivate the next generation of climate scientists. In this program fellows will build their climate science skills, training, and development for two years, they will lead an undergraduate research project in their area of interest at a leading university and will participate in training to prepare for a career in climate adaptation science. The program provides 10 weeks of room and board for two summers and a minimum stipend of $3,500 per summer.
8. EDF Climate Corps Fellows
EDF Climate Corps seeks top graduate students studying business, engineering, sustainability, environmental management, public policy, or other relevant degrees, who are eligible to work in the United States. Over the course of 10-12 weeks, EDF Climate Corps fellows are embedded within leading organizations to identify customized energy management solutions. Fellows are paid $1,250/week and reimbursed for travel expenses to the May training and fall Energy Solutions Exchange (network) event.
Hear directly from Climate Corps Fellow Scott Miller about how the program helped him complete a project and build a network in the field of corporate engineering.
9. Nathan Cummings Foundation Fellowship
The Nathan Cummings Foundation Fellowship supports visionary leaders by giving them boundless space to turn an inspired idea in the field of social justice into a world-changing reality. The Fellowship awards three individuals up to $150,000 each to pursue an innovative project that seeks to address a challenge related to climate change or inequality – or within the intersection of these two major issues. Fellows will be thought partners informing the Foundation’s work and will have the use of a dedicated office at NCF’s New York City headquarters. Only U.S. citizens whose projects are focused on work within the U.S. are eligible for the Fellowship at this time.
10. Ann & Tom Friedman Fellows for Science
The Ann & Tom Friedman Fellows for Science Program recognizes and supports the key role that science plays in achieving Conservation International’s conservation goals. During the two-year program, Friedman Science Fellows have the opportunity to participate in a cohort program that will provide leadership training, site visits and mentoring. Supported by CI’s vast network of staff and partners, they will effectively advance their research and its application on the ground in our priority regions around the world. Fellows receive an annual salary plus paid vacation time.
11. GRID SolarCorps Fellowship
The national SolarCorps Fellowship Program is an opportunity for highly motivated and enthusiastic people to join GRID Alternatives for a one-year, paid term of service to their community. The Corporation for National and Community Service has provided partial funding for the program through AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps VISTA since 2006. Positions are available in areas such as construction, client outreach, and volunteer engagement, and include a stipend and healthcare. Apply for specific positions with rolling deadlines at the website.
12. SEI Climate Corps Fellowship
An SEI Climate Corps Fellowship provides professional development opportunities for emerging leaders through implementation of sustainability and resiliency projects with local governments, nonprofits, and for-profit businesses. Along with extensive personal development and training, Fellows receive a modest stipend and other benefits. The Fellowship typically begins in early September and ends in June. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis: submit applications as soon as possible in order to receive priority placement consideration.
13. McCloy Fellowship on Global Trends
The fellowships allow American and German experts from journalism, the public sector, think tanks, nonprofits, law, and cultural organizations to research and assess the most pressing topics on the transatlantic agenda while engaging with their counterparts overseas. Proposals must address one of the following global trends: climate change and sustainability, demographics and social change, technological breakthroughs, and urbanization. The fellowships allow Americans to travel to Germany and Germans to travel to the United States for at least 3 weeks to conduct research. Fellows receive a $5,000 stipend, which covers transatlantic airfare and domestic travel, as well as room and board, for a minimum of 21 days.
14. NOAA Climate & Global Change (C&GC) Postdoctoral Fellowships
This fellowship program is designed to provide an independent research opportunity to recently graduated PhDs who want to pursue interests that align with the NOAA Climate Program Office. The program focuses on observing, understanding, modeling, and predicting the climate system on seasonal and longer time scales. Experienced scientists at U.S. universities and research institutions host the appointed fellows providing mentoring and a collaborative environment to carry out their research projects. Preference is given to new graduates who are seeking their first fellowship and who have held a PhD for no more than three years.
15. AOSIS Climate Change Fellowship Program
The program brings early career professionals from Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) member countries to New York for one year to participate as part of each Fellow’s national delegation to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and United Nations. Fellows participate in a yearlong training program, including on-going negotiation skills training and media training. It is expected that, after their fellowship, Fellows will return to their home governments and continue to engage on these issues and in the UNFCCC process.
16. CivicSpark AmeriCorps
CivicSpark is a Governor’s Initiative AmeriCorps program in California dedicated to building capacity for local governments to address climate change. Fellows have the chance to gain valuable experience in their field, build office professional skills, and develop a strong network, while creating a lasting difference. The program offers two fellowship tracks: the CivicSpark Climate Action Fellowship (48 fellows) and the CivicSpark Water Action Fellowship. Fellows received a Living Allowance (before taxes) spread evenly over 11 months; a Segal Education Award of $5,775 at the completion of service; and health insurance, among other benefits.
17. Fulbright-Anne Wexler Master’s Award in Public Policy
The Fulbright-Anne Wexler Scholarships enables Australian and U.S. postgraduate students with strong academic credentials and leadership potential to undertake a two-year Master’s degree in Australia or the U.S. focusing in public policy. These may include key areas such as health, sustainability, energy, climate change, regional security, education, political science, history or governmental relations. The award includes tuition, a living stipend and travel. Two Fulbright Anne Wexler Scholarships will be awarded annually: one for an Australian citizen and one for an American (US) citizen.
18. Wild Gift Fellowship
Wild Gift supports social entrepreneurs ages 21-35 in creating early-stage break-through approaches that will help adaptation to and/or mitigation of the impact of climate change on natural and human systems. The 16-month Fellowship delivers a unique program of leadership mentoring, technical assistance, seed funding up to $10,000, networking, and other related services to lift the Fellows’ ventures off the ground. In addition, each Fellow receives the “Wild Gift” – two wilderness immersion experiences connecting them to the natural world on a very personal level.
19. Food and Farming Journalism Fellowships
Aimed at early and mid-career journalists, the Fellowship presents an opportunity to report ambitious long-form stories on the full range of subjects under the rubric of food systems: agricultural and nutritional policy, the food industry, food science, technology and culture, farming, agriculture and the environment (including climate change), global trade and supply chains, food system security and public health. We will award 10 early and mid-career journalists $10,000 to travel and report these stories. The fellowship is open to both print and audio journalists.
20. Mercator-IPC Fellowship Program
The Mercator – IPC Fellowship Program allows outstanding young academics, journalists and civil society activists especially but not exclusively from Germany to work on academic and practical projects at Istanbul Policy Center (IPC) in three thematic areas: EU/German-Turkish relations, Climate Change and Education. Mercator – IPC Fellowships are granted to young scholars and professionals and Mercator – IPC Senior Fellowships are granted to internationally renowned scholars who have already made a significant contribution to German-Turkish or European-Turkish relations. Fellowships are available for 6 to 12 months.
Learn more about how fellowships can empower you to Be A Part of the Climate Solution by hearing directly from Fellowship Alumni on what they gained from their experience.
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