Become a Climate Corps Fellow
Pavan Jaini and Niksa Khemka, Climate Corps Fellows 2025, Mahindra Group
Work on real-world climate and sustainability projects. Build a career in climate.
Ashoka-Environmental Defense Fund Climate Corps Fellowship recruits, trains, and places talented postgraduates and early-career professionals with leading companies, public institutions, and nonprofits to work on high-impact sustainability and climate action initiatives at these organisations.
As a Climate Corps Fellow, you don’t just learn about sustainability; you work on implementing it.
Why Become a Climate Corps Fellow?
The climate transition needs professionals who can work at the intersection of business, policy, finance, and sustainability. Climate Corps prepares you for exactly that.
Through the fellowship, you will:
- Work on real sustainability and net-zero projects with leading organisations
- Gain practical experience in the climate space
- Build in-demand skills in ESG, climate risk, carbon markets, and supply chain sustainability
- Join a global network of climate professionals
How the Fellowship Works
What Fellows Work On
Climate Corps fellows work on implementation-focused projects that help organisations measure, manage, and reduce their environmental impact while strengthening sustainability strategy and reporting.
Below are examples of the types of projects fellows have supported in the past.
Training You Receive
Before starting the fellowship, fellows are trained in key areas as below. This training ensures fellows are prepared to contribute meaningfully from the start of the fellowship.
Climate Risk Assessment
Identifying physical and transition risks, estimating financial implications, integrating climate risk into business strategy, understanding risk mitigation strategies for identified climate risks, learning relevant regulations and reporting requirements
Climate Finance & Carbon Markets
Exploring innovative green finance instruments (green bonds, sustainability-linked loans, etc.), climate funds, global and Indian carbon markets (compliance and voluntary markets), carbon trading methodologies, carbon project development, etc.
Supply Chain Sustainability
Measuring and reducing Scope 3 emissions, implementing sustainable procurement strategies and supplier engagement, integrating renewable energy and resource efficiency, developing criteria for sustainable supply chain and their assessment
Reporting and Disclosures
International & national ESG frameworks, standards, and ratings, India’s BRSR framework & alignment with ESG metrics & national guidelines, impact on investment decisions & stakeholder trust, double materiality, reporting challenges & tech-led solutions
Who Should Apply?
Climate Corps looks for people with demonstrated motivation and passion to work in climate and sustainability. Eligibility criteria include:
- Master’s students or recent postgraduates with at least 2 years of relevant experience
- Early-career professionals (graduated in the last five years at the time of application) from diverse backgrounds (engineering, economics, finance, policy, management, environment, data, etc.)
The Climate Corps Network
When you become a Climate Corps Fellow, you join a global network of sustainability professionals, alumni, host organisations, and partners.
As part of the network, you get access to:
- Job opportunities
- Networking events
- Professional development sessions
- Skill-building workshops
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
The fellowship is open to applicants currently enrolled in Master’s or post-graduate programs, or who have graduated within the last 5 years (not earlier than 1 July 2022), from a degree program in engineering, finance, business, sustainability, environmental management, public policy, or other relevant fields.
Yes. As long as you are able to commit full-time to the fellowship project (3 or 6 months) between April and September 2027, you are eligible to apply.
Applicants who have graduated on 1 July 2022 or later (within the past 5 years) are eligible to apply.
Yes. If you can commit full-time to the fellowship project for at least 3 months between April to September, you are eligible.
The fellowship is a full-time commitment.
- If you are looking for a summer internship or have a limited period to commit, the 3-month option is suitable.
- If you are seeking a more immersive experience, exploring a career pivot, or wish to contribute over a longer period, the 6-month option would be ideal.
Each fellow receives a fixed stipend of Rs 50,000 per month of their fellowship.
Additionally, the fellow is eligible to receive a one-time relocation allowance of up to Rs. 30,000 for expenses incurred towards accommodation and travel, subject to submission of invoices and payment receipts, only after completing the fellowship and submitting all final deliverables.
Yes. Training ensures all fellows begin with a strong foundational understanding of climate and sustainability. Sessions are conducted virtually by experts and industry leaders. Climate Corps Training is conducted in three phases, which for the 2027 cycle will be as follows:
- Asynchronous in January 2027
- Live Level UP (Understand + Practice) in February-March 2027
- Continued Learning in April-September 2027
Learn more about the training here.
Attendance is mandatory, as the certificate of completion is awarded only after meeting participation requirements.
The host organisation is where you will work during your fellowship. Fellows are matched with host organisations based on skills, experience, and interests. Each host assigns a supervisor/reporting manager who acts as your primary point of contact and guide throughout the fellowship.
The matching process considers your skills, experience, and interests alongside the project requirements of host organisations. Matching takes place in February and March.
Climate Corps periodically engages with the fellows and hosts through structured touchpoints to ensure the smooth running of projects. Schedule of touchpoints:
Kick off between fellow, host, Climate Corps team within a week of the start of the fellowship:
To get aligned on the project and timelines and to provide any resource-related or expert connection support to fellows and hosts
Monthly meetings between fellow and Climate Corps team:
To ensure desired progress is being made on the project and provide any support that the fellow or host may require from Climate Corps. It’s optional for hosts to attend these meetings.
End point meeting between fellow, host, and Climate Corps team towards the end of the project:
Here, the fellow gives a presentation on project goals, results, outcomes, and impact to both the host and Climate Corps and shares their learnings.
Post the presentation, the fellow also submits final deliverables to Climate Corps, including a report and public summary, after getting them approved by the host.
You will join the Global Climate Corps alumni network, gaining access to a global community of climate leaders and professionals. Learn more about the network here.
The Climate Corps applications for the 2027 cycle are currently closed and will open in September 2026. You will find an application link on this page.
Applications for the 2026 Climate Corps Fellowship are now closed. The applications for the 2027 cycle will open in September 2026.
Contact climatecorpsindia@ashoka.edu.in for any queries.
Follow Ashoka-Environmental Defense Fund Climate Corps Fellowship on
Environmental Defense Fund and Climate Corps is the registered trademark of the Environmental Defense Fund, Inc. Used with permission.
