Internship at Columbia Center for Sustainable Investing in Spring 2023
this Columbia Center for Sustainable Investing (CCSI), a joint center of Columbia Law School and the Columbia Climate Institute, accepting applications until January 15, 2023 intern position Spring 2023 semester.
These internships can be done remotely. Depending on the background and interests of a particular applicant, the intern will be responsible for one or more specific research projects. Some work-study administrative positions are also offered, which in some cases may award course credit.
CCSI is a leading applied research center and forum dedicated to the research, practice and discussion of sustainable international investment. Its mission is to develop and disseminate practical approaches and solutions to maximize the impact of international investment on sustainable development. The Center’s work is structured around three main research areas: sustainable investment in mining and energy; sustainable investment in land, agriculture and food systems; and sustainable international investment law and policy, as well as issues related to climate change, human rights, energy transition and interdisciplinary research related to business and finance.
Candidates must commit to working a minimum of 10-15 hours per week unless otherwise stated. Carryover to subsequent semesters is possible and, in some cases, preferred.
To apply for the Spring 2023 Internship, please contact CCSI’s Executive Coordinator, Nancy Siporin (nancy.siporin@columbia.edu), unless otherwise specified. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis. Please indicate if you are eligible for a work-study program (preferred but not required). The cover letter should include a clear list of the internship opportunities for which you are applying (you can include as many internships as you want).
Spring 2023 co-op opportunities are currently available for the following individuals:
Law and Policy Studies on Energy, Climate Change and Sustainable Development (native or fluent in Spanish)
CCSI is looking for LLM or JD student interns with native or fluent Spanish skills to assist with legal and policy research, writing, and other activities related to various projects within CCSI’s energy and climate change work. Tasks will include cataloging and reviewing the assignment of responsibilities for the decommissioning of offshore oil and gas installations and infrastructure, as well as leases and contracts for the extraction of fossil fuels in various jurisdictions; identifying, cataloging and examining relevant academic and practical literature on the prevention of environmental pollution and best practices for shifting lessee responsibilities; and identifying potential statutory, regulatory and contractual improvements to existing systems or practices. Preference will be given to candidates with strong legal research and writing skills, and candidates with experience or demonstrated interest in issues related to energy or climate change.
open land contract
CCSI is looking for a motivated, organized, and detail-oriented undergraduate or graduate intern to help manage CCSI’s transparency tools: OpenLandContracts.org. Interns will assist in the management of certain administrative tasks related to the site, with the aim of helping communities, civil society organisations, host governments and other actors better understand the details of transactions surrounding agriculture, forestry, renewable energy and other land – Global Investment projects in the South. Preference will be given to candidates who are native French speakers or fluent in French. Knowledge of Python scripting may also be helpful, but not required. Work-study assignments are an asset, but not required. Time Commitment: Ad hoc arrangements as needed.
Antitrust, ESG and Sustainability Mapping
Over the past few years, there has been growing academic, political, and social debate about the boundaries of competition and cooperation in markets for non-economic interests, including efforts to mitigate environmental impacts, accelerate energy transitions, protect human rights, and advance workers’ rights and prosperity. Issues and controversies arose with regard to joint standards development and activities between companies, as well as industry-wide collaboration and coordinated participation of investors and financial institutions. Antitrust-related issues and challenges are said to increasingly hinder the necessary engagement and mobilization of private actors to address climate and other sustainability-related challenges. CCSI and the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law are multidimensionally mapping this issue space, identifying parallel and intersecting debates and legal issues, political and other challenges and dynamics, and the range of actors at the center of the debate. Preference will be given to law students with a background in competition law.
Incorporate climate and human capital management considerations into asset allocation and strategy
CCSI and the Earth Institute’s Sustainable Development Policy and Management Research Program are seeking graduate interns to assist in the review of academic and practical literature on climate change and human capital management, respectively, as they relate to investment strategies. This work will support a broader project focused on helping large public pension funds understand the potential impact of environmental, social and governance factors on long-term value creation and effective risk management in their portfolios, drawing on more generally applicable Trustees for asset owners, especially intergenerational asset owners and their members. Students with law and finance related experience are strongly encouraged.
Operations Assistant (Work Study)
CCSI is looking for an undergraduate or graduate work-study student to assist with various substantive operational tasks. Work-study positions are primarily to help with business and administrative tasks related to center operations, with the opportunity to specialize in one of several areas, including business operations, editorial, communications, event or workflow support. Preference will be given to responsible, detail-oriented undergraduate or graduate students. Those with long-term availability are preferred. To apply for this Operations Assistant position, please send your cover letter and resume to CCSI’s Director of Operations, Paulo Cunha (pcunha@law.columbia.edu).
For more information on internship opportunities and how to apply, see CCSI’s website.
