Global Climate Justice Fellows Program
Global Climate Justice Fellows Program
The ECJS Lab Global Climate Justice Fellows program is designed to give NYU graduate degree students hands-on experience in the world of energy and food access and climate-related and community-based resilience and well-being.
Applications for next year's program go live in February 2026. Sign up to receive notifications.
The program aims to create a community of next-generation leaders focused on the intersection of social and economic disparities, justice as a community value, and climate change and sustainability. Each fellow will be offered a specially designed experiential learning opportunity working alongside climate and sustainability leaders from the private sector, environmentally-oriented non-profits, multilateral agencies, philanthropic and educational organizations, and government sectors in the United States and internationally.
Through their Global Climate Justice Fellows’ experiences, students will be able to broaden their knowledge of sustainability practice, build leadership skills, and gain valuable work experience in the field of sustainability and climate action. During and following their experiential learning project, the Global Climate Justice Fellows will be able to exchange learnings and experiences with the broader NYU community in a read-out seminar organized to showcase learnings from experiential projects. The Global Climate Justice Fellows program is aimed at broadening SPS’s sustainability practice across a wider spectrum of students and professional networks.
2026 PROGRAM
The application for Summer 2026 Fellows will launch in February 2026. Please sign up to receive notifications when the materials are available via this link.
Program Overview
Global Climate Justice Fellowships take place during the summer semester. During the 8-week program, students will be expected to commit a standard 35 hours per week and will receive an $8,000 stipend for the fellowship. Prior to the program, students will engage in an orientation, review assigned readings, and engage in related skills modules as preparation. As a part of the project deliverables, Global Climate Justice Fellows will create a written report and two presentations - one for the host organization and the other to be presented at an NYU event with the general public.
The 8-week Fellowship will take place between June and August, with exact dates determined by Fellows and Project Hosts during the Project Scoping phase. During the duration of the project, Fellows will have alternating weekly check-ins with ECJS Lab.
Program Highlights
- A stipend to support a climate-sustainability-oriented summer research project or experiential learning activity.
- Program orientation for participating fellows to network and prepare for their experiential learning activity, internship, or research project.
- Post-activity read-out public event at the CGA to share learnings and experiences.
Selection Process
The Global Climate Justice Fellows program is open to all enrolled NYU graduate students who qualify for summer engagements. The Global Climate Justice Fellows program is open to all enrolled NYU graduate students who qualify for summer engagements and have an existing SSN or ITIN.
The application for Summer 2026 Fellows will launch in February 2026. Please sign up to receive notifications when the materials are available via this link.
Eligibility Requirements
- Both part-time and full-time, domestic and international, graduate students are eligible (must be in good academic standing)
- Completion of at least one Spring/Fall semester at NYU is required by the START of Spring 2026
- Students attending NYU with F-1 or J-1 status are eligible to apply as long as they have an exisiting SSN or ITIN and fulfill all other requirements for the stipend and maintain their immigration status. Please contact OGS to learn more about authorization for unpaid internships and volunteer work, and for more information regarding taxes that may be assessed for the stipend.
Finalists will be required to interview via Zoom with the Selection Committee in March.
PROGRAM TIMELINE
February 2026
- Applications Open
March 2026
- Applications Due by 11:59 PM on Sunday, March 1, 2026
- Virtual Interviews with Finalist Candidates (middle of March TBD)
- Global Climate Justice Fellows will be notified by the end of the month
April 2026
- TBD - Program Orientation and Overview; Review of Required Readings and Skills Modules
May 2026
- TBD, 5:00 - 6:30 pm - Reception with Hosts
June 2026
- Projects Begin
- Alternating weekly check-ins with ECJS Lab
July 2026
- Alternating weekly check-ins with ECJS Lab
August 2026
- Projects conclude
- By the end of the month - project delivery/presentation to hosts
September/October 2026
- NYU Public Event with Project Presentations
APPLICATION
The application for Summer 2026 Fellows will launch in February 2026. Please sign up to receive notifications when the materials are available via this link.
A selection committee comprising NYU Faculty and Administration will consider applications. No applications will be considered after the application deadline.
The short answer portion is one of the most important portions of the review process, so make sure to be detailed and informed in your responses. Each answer should be no more than 500 words.
Application Components:
- Complete Application Form
- One Statement of Interest (500 words max)
- Unofficial Academic Transcript
- Current Resume
- Two professional references
- Video Introduction (3-5 minutes)
If you have any questions about this form or need another accessible format, please email ECJSLab@nyu.edu and we would be happy to assist you
Sample Projects
Please find examples of projects completed by former Global Climate Justice Fellows:
- East New York Farms! Project
Global Climate Justice Fellows partnered with East New York Farms!, a community-driven initiative promoting sustainable agriculture and food security in Brooklyn, to strengthen outreach and evaluation efforts. The Fellows designed program assessments, collected community data, and developed tools such as printed menus and recipe cards to support cooking demos and workshops. Their work helped identify gaps in community knowledge, enhance program visibility, and build capacity for ENYF!’s mission to create a more sustainable and equitable local food system.
- Solar One
Global Climate Justice Fellows worked with Solar One to support New York State’s Clean Energy Communities Program by promoting access to Community Solar. This initiative enables NYC renters and homeowners to benefit from solar power without rooftop installations, lowering their Con Edison energy bills. The Fellows designed outreach strategies - including digital campaigns, brochures, and flyers - and gathered feedback from current subscribers through surveys. Their efforts helped expand awareness of the program and strengthen Solar One’s community engagement around renewable energy adoption.
- National Grid
Global Climate Justice Fellows explored the role of building electrification in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and advancing New York State’s climate justice goals. Focusing on the affordability of heat pump adoption, the Fellow researched the financial, practical, and equity challenges of transitioning heating systems away from fossil fuels. Their work highlighted strategies to make electrification more accessible for low-income households, supporting a more just and affordable energy transition.
- UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs
Global Climate Justice Fellows supported the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs in preparing for the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development. Their work included coordinating Voluntary National Review (VNR) presentations and labs, facilitating Ministerial Declaration negotiations, and co-authoring the biennial Secretary-General Report on Human Resource Development. Through this fellowship, the Fellow contributed to advancing global dialogue on sustainable development while gaining firsthand insight into the dynamics of the UN system.
