Climate & Sustainability Global Insurance Intern
Program/Department Overview
The Economics team is the nexus of economics at EDF, ensuring that the economic thinking that is the backbone for all EDF policy positions is based on the best available knowledge. To be most effective in this role, the Economics team provides support for other programs throughout EDF and fosters relationships with economists outside the organization.
EDF+Business is working to create a more sustainable world where companies, communities, and the environment thrive. We’re making it happen by forging unexpected partnerships that catalyze environmental leadership and collaboration across companies and supply chains. This is a new EDF + Biz and Economics project to examine how insurance companies can support decarbonization and sustainability through their underwriting standards. Our team has been at the forefront of this transformation for +25 years, bringing cutting-edge science, policy, and economic expertise to high-impact companies to transform business as usual in their products, operations, and advocacy.
Overall Function
Environmental Defense Fund is seeking a part-time graduate intern to work on climate and sustainability efforts in the insurance sector. The global insurance and reinsurance sectors have been facing pressure to evaluate its strategies to support a transition to a net zero and nature positive economy. The intern will assist in gathering, evaluating, and cataloging the underwriting commitments of insurers related to climate and the environment. They will also assist with other background research, writing of briefs, interviews, and possible data analysis. The intern will report to the Assistant Vice President of Economics and Policy and will work across the Economics and EDF+Biz teams.
Key Responsibilities
Tasks will include but are not limited to:
- Find, catalog, and classify all insurance and reinsurance underwriting commitments related to climate and sustainability.
- Conduct background research and data analysis on the role of the insurance industry in promoting decarbonization and sustainable approaches across sectors.
- Manage informational interviews.
- Assist in writing briefs, reports, and/or background materials.
- Participate in advancing EDF Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) goals in which people from all backgrounds and experiences feel connected, included, and empowered to address the environmental and organizational challenges in alignment with EDF values.
Qualifications
- Must be enrolled in or a recent graduate of a degree program in economics, public policy, risk management, business, or another relevant graduate program.
- Demonstrated interest in insurance and climate change.
- Proficient in Microsoft Excel.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills.
- Must be well organized, motivated, and detail-oriented.
- Ability to work independently, prioritize, and meet deadlines.
- Demonstrate self-awareness, cultural competency and inclusivity, and ability to work with colleagues and stakeholders across diverse cultures and backgrounds.
- Demonstrate initiative and problem solving skills.
Location
U.S. Remote
Term
Spring 2023
Hours
Part-time, 8-10 hours a week.
Compensation
This internship would involve either compensation for work paid at a rate competitive with leading non-profits at $20-$22/hr or academic credit. Students are encouraged to seek academic credit or funding through their college/university and EDF will ensure that any and all paperwork needed to secure academic credit is completed.
Application Materials
Interested applicants should attach their cover letter and resume to the EDF application, together with a writing sector. Please discuss in the cover letter any background or interest you have in insurance markets.