Climate Justice Fellowship:

Grow with Us

Sustainable Hudson Valley is excited to invite Letters of Interest from potential Climate Justice Fellows for a one-year appointment beginning February 1, 2024. Send your 2 – 3 page statement of qualifications, experience and vision to info@sustainhv.org by December 8, 2023.

Climate change is a threat multiplier, and its impacts are worst where people can least afford to deal with them. Climate Justice is a framework for programs and priorities that bring support to communities that have borne the brunt of environmental racism and economic inequality. New York’s Climate Law – a policy framework to get New York off fossil fuels over the next 20 years – is committed to investing 35-40% of funds into historically “disadvantaged” communities.

Right now there is a major opportunity to take full advantage of Climate Act funding to make neighborhoods more livable and build local ownership of assets, by planning together for projects that integrate clean energy and climate resilience — like rain gardens, cool roofs, and micro-grids. That opportunity is NYSERDA’s Climate Justice Fellows program, which provides $37,000 toward the salary of a Fellow who represents a “priority population” such as people of color, single parents and veterans. Fellows will also receive fully paid health insurance and $3,000 in flexible “wrap-around” services such as specialized training and equipment.

The program is a launch pad for new clean energy and climate professionals; SHV’s vision is to support a multi-disciplinary approach that also focuses on climate resilience and community organizing. Mentored by SHV senior staff, board and project partners, the Climate Justice Fellow will be able to study through reading, interaction and hands-on projects, learning about local climate impacts, strategies to build resilience, green economic development and infrastructure. Learning about climate communications, organizational development, leadership skills will also be part of the Fellowship experience. The Fellow will be part of community-based work with partner organizations to assess opportunities, develop visions, write funding proposals, and organize hands-on projects.