Economic Policy Intern (New York, Austin, Hybrid)
Organization: Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) Location: U.S. Remote (Hybrid option in New York or Austin) Job Type: InternshipAre you an individual passionate about using economics to solve environmental problems? The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) is looking for an Economic Policy Intern to join its Economics team. In this role, you will help develop climate solutions that create jobs, build resilient communities, and cut pollution in an effective and equitable way. Therefore, this is a high-quality experience that will form a strong foundation for an environmental career.
The Internship: Your Role in Climate Solutions
This intern will support the EDF Economics team in advancing spatial data analysis and research to inform climate and equity-focused initiatives. In particular, a key focus will be expanding our U.S. Climate Vulnerability Index to include congressional districts.
For this Economic Policy Intern role, you will perform a variety of tasks, including:
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Data Analysis: You will assist in expanding the U.S. Climate Vulnerability Index to rank the climate vulnerability of congressional districts using geospatial tools and methods. Furthermore, you will contribute to ongoing maintenance and refinement of the dataset, ensuring its consistency, accuracy, and clarity.
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Spatial Data Products: You will help update and organize a publicly accessible data repository to support broader use by coders, modelers, and the general public. As a result, you will create spatial data products (e.g., for ArcGIS or QGIS) to increase accessibility for spatial analysts and mapping projects.
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Collaboration and Communication: You will collaborate with team members to draft memos, factsheets, or reports that communicate data insights to policy-facing staff and external partners.
Who We’re Looking For: Qualifications and Skills
The ideal candidate for this EDF internship has a demonstrated interest in economics, climate policy, or data science.
Key Qualifications:
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Relevant Background: You should have a demonstrated interest in fields such as economics, climate policy, environmental justice, spatial analysis, or data science. In particular, we recommend coursework in these areas.
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Technical Skills: You must have experience working with Excel for data organization and analysis. Moreover, basic proficiency in R, geographic information systems, and spatial data concepts is also required.
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Soft Skills: You must have excellent written and oral communication skills. Likewise, you should be well-organized, motivated, and detail-oriented. Ultimately, you must be able to multitask and prioritize effectively.
Remote Economic Policy Intern
Term and Compensation
This is a Fall 2025 internship. In addition, you can choose to work part-time (20 hours/week) or full-time (35 hours/week). We offer compensation at a rate of $20/hr, which is competitive with leading non-profits.
Apply here: https://unjobs.org/vacancies/1754345366597
FAQs
Q: Is this a paid internship? A: Yes, in short, this internship offers compensation at a rate of $20/hr.
Q: What is the work location? A: To be clear, this is a U.S. remote position with the option to work as a hybrid employee out of an EDF office in New York or Austin.
Q: What is the time commitment? A: Ultimately, you can choose to work either part-time (20 hours/week) or full-time (35 hours/week).
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