Summer 2026 India Program Intern

Natural Resources Defense Council

4d • Hybrid

About The Position

NRDC is a non-profit environmental advocacy organization. We use law, science, and the support of 3.1 million members and online activists to protect the planet's wildlife and wild places and to ensure the rights of all people to clean air, clean water, and healthy communities. NRDC was founded in 1970 and our people helped write some of America's bedrock environmental laws, including the Clean Water Act and many of the implementing regulations. Today, our team of more than 700 lawyers, scientists, economists, policy advocates, communications experts, and others work across the United States and the globe from our offices in Beijing; Chicago; New Delhi; New York; San Francisco; Santa Monica; and Washington, D.C. NRDC is seeking a Summer 2026 India Program Intern to work with the International team associated with our Washington, DC office. The Internship will provide an excellent opportunity to be a part of climate and energy-related research in the Indian context, with projects ranging from identifying major barriers and potential solutions to clean energy access, advancing sustainable and energy efficient cooling solutions, building and strengthening resilience to extreme heat, fast-tracking electric mobility targets and adoption, and analyzing India's progress towards meeting its climate commitments. Work products and deliverables may include blog posts, internal memos, briefing memos to external stakeholders, and stand-alone analysis or documents that will be incorporated into NRDC reports, factsheets, and presentations. NRDC is committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion, both in our work and in our workplace. We believe that celebrating and actively welcoming diverse voices and perspectives is essential to solving the planet's most pressing environmental problems, and we encourage applications from candidates whose identities have been historically under-represented in the environmental movement. We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. This position is: a paid internship with a stipend equivalent to $10,000.00 paid bi-weekly over the course of the assignment. The incumbent will not qualify as an employee, fellow, volunteer, or independent contractor of NRDC, nor will the incumbent be guaranteed employment at the end of the internship term. NRDC operates under a hybrid work model. Employees are required to come into the office 8 days per month. As a science-based organization, NRDC aims to do our part to help contain the COVID-19 public health crisis. For the sake of health, safety, and equity, we ask that people be vaccinated unless they have an approved medical or religious accommodation or other exemption in accordance with state and local law. We consider a person to be vaccinated two weeks after receiving one full course of a CDC-approved vaccine. In accordance with state or local law, new hires will be asked to attest to vaccination. Those wishing to do so may request medical or religious accommodations or other exemptions. NRDC treats all vaccination-related data confidentially, in keeping with local, state, and federal laws. To apply, visit www.nrdc.org/careers and upload your résumé and cover letter. Please mention where you saw this posting and upload any additional materials that showcase your abilities. Due to the high volume of applications, we will contact only those candidates we would like to interview. Please no phone calls, emails, or in-person résumé drop-offs. If you experience technical problems while applying or if you are a person with a disability and need assistance applying online, please reach out to iCIMS Customer Care at 1-800-889-4422. For more about NRDC, visit www.nrdc.org.

Requirements

• The ideal candidate will be an environmental policy graduate student, with excellent writing and research skills.
• Applicants should be knowledgeable about energy and climate change.

Nice To Haves

• International experience is helpful.

Responsibilities

• be a part of climate and energy-related research in the Indian context
• projects ranging from identifying major barriers and potential solutions to clean energy access
• advancing sustainable and energy efficient cooling solutions
• building and strengthening resilience to extreme heat
• fast-tracking electric mobility targets and adoption
• analyzing India's progress towards meeting its climate commitments
• Work products and deliverables may include blog posts, internal memos, briefing memos to external stakeholders, and stand-alone analysis or documents that will be incorporated into NRDC reports, factsheets, and presentations.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Intern