Pavan Jaini and Niksa Khemka, Climate Corps Fellows 2025, Mahindra Group
Become a Climate Corps Fellow
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
Applications
Apply: Submit your application during the application window. The Climate Corps applications are currently closed. The applications will open in September 2026 for the 2027 fellowships. Download the role description here.
Sept to Jan
Fellow-Host Custom Matching
Get Matched: If selected, you will be matched with a host organisation based on your skills, interests, and experience and how it aligns with the host’s preferences.
Feb to Mar
3/6 Months Fellowship
Fellowship Project: You will work with your host organisation for 3 or 6 months on a climate or sustainability project. You will be paid a stipend of INR 50,000 per month for the duration of your fellowship project.
Oct/Nov
Sept to Dec
Virtual Interviews
Interview: If your application is shortlisted, you will be invited to a virtual interview (45-50 minutes), which will include a case study problem.
Feb to Mar
Fellow Training
Training: You will undergo rigorous three-phase training to prepare you for not only for your fellowship project but for your larger careers in sustainability.
Apr to Sept
Climate Corps Summit
Join the Network: The fellowships culminate in a finale event called Climate Corps Summit where fellows come back together to celebrate and reflect on their fellowship journeys. After this, you become part of the Climate Corps network and gain access to ongoing professional development opportunities.
Step 1 – Apply: Submit your application during the application window. You can download the role description here.
The Climate Corps applications for the 2026 cycle are currently closed. The applications will open in September 2026 for the 2027 cycle of fellowships.
Step 2 – Interview: If your application is shortlisted, you will be invited to a virtual interview (45-50 minutes), which will include a case study problem.
Step 3 – Get Matched: If selected, you will be matched with a host organisation based on your skills, interests, experience, and how it aligns with the host’s preferences.
Step 4 – Training: You will undergo rigorous three-phase training to prepare you not only for your fellowship project but for your larger career in sustainability.
Step 5 – Fellowship Project: You will work with your host organisation for 3 or 6 months on a climate or sustainability project. You will be paid a stipend of INR 50,000 per month for the duration of your fellowship project.
Step 6 – Join the Network: The fellowships culminate in a finale event called Climate Corps Summit where fellows come back together to celebrate and reflect on their fellowship journeys. After this, you become part of the Climate Corps network and gain access to ongoing professional development opportunities.
What Fellows Work On (Project Types)
Climate Corps fellows work on implementation-focused projects that help organsations 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, carbon credit markets, carbon trading methodologies, double counting, additionality, frameworks by ICVCM, etc.
Supply Chain Sustainability
Implementing sustainable procurement strategies and supplier engagement, measuring and reducing Scope 3 emissions, integrating renewable energy and resource efficiency, designing criteria for sustainable supply chain and their assessment
Reporting and Disclosures
International and national frameworks (BRSR, GRI, SASB), India’s BRSR framework and alignment with ESG metrics and national guidelines, ESG ratings & their impact on investment decisions & stakeholder trust, double materiality, reporting challenges & tech-led solution
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
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.
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Environmental Defense Fund and Climate Corps is the registered trademark of the Environmental Defense Fund, Inc. Used with permission.
