From Colombia to COP27 in six months: Cassidy Childs
Cassidy Childs is a Research Associate for International Climate Policy at the Center for American Progress and a Class of 2022 graduate of Columbia University’s MPA in Environmental Science and Policy (MPA-ESP) program.
Cassidy Childs, Research Associate, International Climate Policy, Center for American Progress, Class of 2022, Columbia University MPA Environmental Science and Policy (MPA-ESP) program. Within six months of graduating, Cassidy attended the United Nations climate conference (COP27) in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.At the meeting, she organized a loss and damage Host events and climate science accessibility at the conference’s first-ever Climate Justice Pavilion. Panelists included White House officials, chief executives of environmental nonprofits, senior policy experts and advocates. These events were a huge success and pushed the dialogue of justice and fairness further into the conference.
exist Center for American Progress, Cassidy is committed to building equity and inclusion into environmental policies that have historically marginalized low-income communities and communities of color. These include policies on climate resilience and adaptation and environmental justice in the United States and abroad. Her day-to-day work includes researching products posted on the CAP website, coordinating events and meetings, collaborating with alliances and partners, and writing memos on international climate policy.
Photo courtesy of Cassidy Childs
Cassidy spoke to us in early 2023 to provide career and program advice to current and prospective ESP students.
What is your interest in the field of sustainable development?
I became passionate about climate issues after the Tubbs fire devastated my hometown of Santa Rosa, California in 2017. The Tubbs Fire destroyed more than 5,200 homes and shook the foundations of the community where I grew up. From that experience, climate change and its impacts became a deeply personal issue. At UC Berkeley, I began researching climate resilience and climate justice and advocated for local environmental justice causes. It’s becoming increasingly clear to me that climate change will be a struggle of our lives, one that will disproportionately affect the most vulnerable communities. This will always be a problem worth working on.
Can you briefly introduce your previous work experience and educational background?
Before working at the Center for American Progress, I was an Environmental Justice Intern for the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ). At CEQ, I’m helping implement President Biden’s Justice40 initiative and climate and economic justice screening tool. The Justice40 Initiative aims to direct 40% of the proceeds of certain government investments to disadvantaged communities. The internship gave me a great appreciation for how the federal government implements interagency initiatives, and I’m excited to begin one of the most important environmental justice policies in American history.
My previous professional experience includes climate resilience research and advocacy on environmental justice issues. I have a BA in Political Science and a BA in Society and the Environment from UC Berkeley.
What motivated you to get the MPA-ESP from Columbia University?
The MPA-ESP program appealed to me because of its focus on the linkages between policy, technology, finance, and environmental issues. Not many schools are addressing climate and environmental issues through this progressive lens. Other MPA programs don’t deal with science, and other environmental science programs don’t deal with policy and politics. The program made sure I was able to learn about both. Additionally, the cohort style of the program was appealing because I knew it would give me the opportunity to really connect with my classmates and create friendships that last a lifetime.
What skills did you develop through the program? How did this translate to your career?
The program taught me how to lead and participate in large team projects with short and long term deliverables. Due to the large number of group projects, the program required us to delegate responsibilities, build consensus and collaborate productively with people from diverse backgrounds. The same type of skills are required in my work as projects are often executed not only across work teams but potentially across organisations.
Where would you like to see your career take you?
The field of climate policy is changing and expanding rapidly, which is very exciting. I want to continue my work on climate and environmental justice because equity considerations and community impact should be at the forefront of decision-making, whether these policies are about clean energy deployment or enabling reforms or climate adaptation and infrastructure. My vision for the future is one where we not only learn to live sustainably in this world, but also correct the massive inequalities and historical racism in our societies and around the world.
Photo courtesy of Cassidy Childs
What is your favorite show memory?
My favorite memory from the program is our summer trip to Coney Island. It’s a great way to explore the city, take a break and have a good time as a queue. We played games, played in the sea, and went to the playground. When I think back on that day, I remember the warm sunshine, the sound of laughter and the smell of fried food.
What advice would you give current students?
The plan is short, and you should treat each day as an opportunity to take a step toward your goal. You should reach out to as many professionals, alumni, and current students as possible to understand potential avenues that you may or may not like. Your conversation will give you a lot of information about the professional world, yourself and potential opportunities.
