SUNY Climate Corps Internship Program expands

ALBANY | On Dec. 5, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the launch of the SUNY Climate Corps Internship Program to offer paid applied-learning opportunities for State University of New York students at state agencies with environmental and sustainability missions. In the first year of the program, up to 40 students will be selected for immersive, real-life work experiences for compensation and college credit in research and policy at SUNY System Administration and state agencies including the Department of Environmental Conservation; Department of Public Services; New York State Energy Research and Development; Office of General Services; and Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Other state agencies with environmental and sustainability missions are expected to participate in the following years. "SUNY students are prepared to take on the climate fight and shape a future where innovation and environmental stewardship go hand in hand," Gov. Hochul said. "The Climate Corps Internship Program is an opportunity for our state to mentor a new generation of public servants, to learn from them and their expertise, and to channel more resources towards this critical fight." SUNY students will gain the experience, knowledge and skills necessary to excel in the clean technology, energy, circular economy and environmental sectors. Through close partnership between SUNY campuses and state agencies, students will take advantage of a crucial opportunity to apply their classroom work and academic research to current environmental issues and gain governmental and policy-making experience. Students will also be mentored by seasoned professionals in the field, granting interns a deeper insight into the industry. Providing paid internships enables students from low-income households, in particular, to take advantage of applied-learning opportunities, which have a high impact on student success and completion. In turn, student interns from disadvantaged frontline communities, who are more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and understand related challenges, may contribute to solutions. Paid internships level the playing field, enabling rising environmental leaders to compete based on their interests, training and qualifications, without being constrained by economic circumstances. Through $500,000 in funding from Empire State Development, SUNY removing barriers for the next generation of innovators to contribute to New York state's climate action goals. The program also creates a talent pipeline for partner agencies, offering them a unique opportunity to engage with high-potential students who may become their future employees and leaders. SUNY Chancellor John B. King, Jr. said, "The SUNY Climate Corps makes progress toward three important priorities: providing a paid experiential learning opportunity for every undergraduate student at SUNY, advancing economic mobility, and achieving New York State's sustainability and climate action goals. Our students are excited about careers that help to solve the climate crisis, and there is no better place to do that than in New York's nation-leading state agencies. Thanks to Governor Hochul, we are starting this program with our agency partners to open more opportunities. My thanks to ESD for funding this initiative, and DEC, DPS, NYSERDA, OGS, and Parks for their partnership with our campuses to develop these programs." Those eligible include undergraduate and graduate students attending part- or full-time. Candidates will be selected based on demonstrated interest in sustainability careers, as well as potential for leadership and innovation, with a preference for those who come from disadvantaged communities designated under the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, and students facing related barriers to obtaining an internship experience.

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SUNY Climate Corps Internship Program expands

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