Krutika Dalvi, Climate Corps Fellow 2021, Mahindra Holidays
Ashoka-Environmental Defense Fund Climate Corps Fellowship
Ashoka-Environmental Defense Fund Climate Corps Fellowship is an innovative fellowship program that trains talented and passionate post graduate students and pairs them with companies and public institutions committed to meeting climate goals and helping to strengthen the Indian economy.
Programme Overview
The programme addresses a crucial human capital gap in the wide-ranging efforts to fight climate change, delivering bold, practical solutions that benefit the planet and people’s health. Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) established the Climate Corps fellowship programme in 2008 to foster climate leadership by equipping professionals with the connections and skills necessary to drive progress. Climate Corps Fellowship operates in three countries: the US, China, and India. Fellows design tools and recommendations that help organisations reduce emissions by mapping climate commitments, augmenting sustainability capacity, increasing both renewable energy and energy efficiency and/or engaging suppliers. To date, Climate Corps fellows have identified opportunities to avoid more than 2 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions — equivalent to taking nearly half a million cars off the road for a year.
AshokaX is partnering with the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) to execute this fellowship in India, to build a skilled green workforce and accelerate net-zero and sustainability goals. We are committed to empowering skilled leaders who will advance solutions to put the economy on a path to reach net-zero emissions by mid-century and grow the economy while mitigating the worst effects of climate change.
Read the press release on the partnership between AshokaX and EDF here.
Global Impact of Climate Corps
850+
4000+
40%
$1.6B
organisations have worked with Climate Corps
members of our growing global network of alumini and host partners
of Fortune 100 companies have worked with Climate Corps
in energy savings identifies by fellows
Focus Sectors and Areas
The fellowship focuses on emission-intensive, hard-to-abate sectors such as:
Agriculture/Food Systems
Incorporating climate smart practices, measuring and reducing emissions across the agricultural and food value chains
Sustainable Finance
Climate risk assessment, sustainable financing, climate-related policy and disclosures, investing in net-zero transition
Freight & Logistics
Reducing Scope 3 emissions, engaging suppliers on sustainability initiatives, zero-emission medium and heavy-duty vehicle fleets
Manufacturing
Reducing emissions, incorporating material circularity to manufacturing processes, enabling efficient industrial operations
Across these sectors, fellows work in the industry demand areas as follows:
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
Programme Structure
Fellow Recruitment & Partnerships
Fellow Recruitment: We recruit passionate Masters-level students and early-career professionals from premier institutions and industry professionals. We look for people with the drive and skills to make measurable, real-world sustainability impact.
Feb to Mar 2026
Fellow Training
Training: We prepare every fellow with 60+ hours of intensive training from the latest sustainability insights and sector knowledge to leadership and problem-solving skills, so they’re ready to create impact from day one.
Apr to Sep 2026
Climate Corps Summit
Network: When the fellowship ends, the journey doesn’t stop. Fellows become part of our 4,000+ strong global community, a powerful network of alumni, hosts, and partners shaping the future of sustainability.
Sep ’25 to Jan ’26
Custom Matching
Matching: We custom-match our fellows with companies, public institutions, and nonprofits (referred to as the hosts) — making sure their talents, interests, and availability align with the requirements of hosts.
Feb to Mar 2026
3/6 Months Fellowship
Fellowship: Our fellows work with hosts for 3 or 6 months to create actionable sustainability strategies, with support from the hosts, expert advisors, and the Climate Corps network. Each fellow receives a stipend of Rs. 50,000/month.
Nov 2026
Fellow Recruitment: We recruit passionate Masters-level students and early-career professionals from premier institutions and industry professionals. We look for people with the drive and skills to make measurable, real-world sustainability impact.
Host Partnerships: We receive project information from our host partners spanning leading private companies, public sector organisations, and think tanks, keen on moving the needle in sustainability.
Matching: We custom-match our fellows with companies, public institutions, and nonprofits (referred to as the hosts) — making sure their talents, interests, and availability align with the requirements of hosts.
Training: We prepare every fellow with 60+ hours of intensive training from the latest sustainability insights and sector knowledge to leadership and problem-solving skills, so they’re ready to create impact from day one.
Fellowship: Our fellows work with hosts for 3 or 6 months to create actionable sustainability strategies, with support from the hosts, expert advisors, and the Climate Corps network. Each fellow receives a stipend of Rs. 50,000/month.
Network: When the fellowship ends, the journey doesn’t stop. Fellows become part of our 4,000+ strong global community, a powerful network of alumni, hosts, and partners shaping the future of sustainability.
Who the Programme Is for and Why
Students and Early-career Professionals gain:
Intensive training by industry experts in emerging areas of climate risk, supply chain, ESG disclosure, and sustainable finance.
Real-world experience on cutting-edge net-zero and sustainability projects for 3 months/6 months.
Launchpad for sustainability careers and opportunity to build a strong professional network.
Companies, Public Sector Organisations, and Think Tanks gain:
A competitive edge by boosting their organizations’ bandwidth to expedite sustainability and climate action goals.
Trained fellows from leading universities, who bring niche skills in climate risk, supply chain, ESG disclosure, and sustainable finance.
Opportunity to attract and retain top talent, making their organization more attractive by showing strong environmental commitment.
Featured Projects
The Climate Corps fellowship drives lasting change across multiple sectors within a wide range of top companies and organizations. More than 35 organisations have hosted Climate Corps fellows across 100+ projects in India. See the full list here.
Learn Sustainability Skills and Empower Your Career!
Our fellows undergo training that includes virtual sessions from industry leaders and experts, covering essential topics such as GHG accounting, sustainability strategy, carbon accounting, financial analysis, and more. Navigate to the Climate Corps Training page through the button below, and register to get access to our training sessions.
Transforming Ideas Into Action: Fellow and Host Experiences
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Environmental Defense Fund and Climate Corps is the registered trademark of the Environmental Defense Fund, Inc. Used with permission.
