United Nations Environment Programme is looking for a Regional Climate Intern

Organization: United Nations Environment Programme
Location: GENEVA
Level: INT - I-1
Job Family: ENV
Application Deadline: 23 December 2025 at 04:59 UTC
Job Opening Number: 25-United Nations Environment Programme-267969-Consultant
Apply via: UN Inspira Portal

Work Location
Geneva/remote

Expected duration
6 Months

Duties and Responsibilities

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. The overall objective of the UNEP’s Industry and Economy Division is to encourage decision makers in government, local authorities and industry to develop and adopt policies, strategies and practices and technologies that promote sustainable patterns of consumption and production, make efficient use of natural resources, ensure safe management of chemicals and contribute to making trade and environment policies mutually supportive. It promotes the development, use and transfer of policies, technologies, economic instruments, managerial practices and other tools that assist in environmentally sound decision making and the building of corresponding activities.

The United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) is the strategic partnership between the United Nations and over 500 banks, insurers and investors. For over 32 years UNEP FI has been shaping and driving the international sustainable finance agenda, setting global standards and growing a global network of leading financial institutions. Through its work-streams delivering resources to advance sustainable finance and regional activities, peer learning, training and research, UNEP FI carries out its mission to help the financial industry align with and contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals and with that take on the crucial role it must play in achieving a sustainable future.

UNEP FI’s Climate team is looking for an intern to work with the UNEP FI climate and regional teams in scaling up and further developing climate mitigation initiatives for commercial banks, insurers, and asset owners in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), Africa Middle East (AME), Asia Pacific (APAC) and Europe.

The intern will work with the LAC, AME, APAC or Europe climate team and other regional teams to support climate mitigation initiatives with commercial banks as well as policymakers and regulators in LAC, AME, APAC or Europe, especially in the areas of green and sustainable finance. The intern will support the development and delivery of UNEP FI’s climate plans for these regions covering areas such impact analysis, risk management, target setting, transition finance, and implementation. This work will promote the full integration of climate considerations into all aspects of the banking sector in these regions and help foster private sector investment towards the transition to a low-carbon, climate resilient economy.

Tasks

• Support in the organization, planning, and delivery of bilateral and collective engagement with banks, insurers, and asset owners to raise awareness and build capacity across the climate mitigation journey.
• Support to conduct regional / country analysis of existing climate transition capabilities to identify gaps and opportunities to advance institutional capacity across the different areas of financial decarbonisation.
• Support to scope and prioritise climate transition capacity-building needs.
• Support the delivery of the LAC climate plan by considering UNEP FI’s, and other strategic partners’ capabilities and resources.
• Support in the design and preparation of regional / country-specific training materials.
• Support in the design and delivery of capacity-building work in various forms to support FIs to advance their climate mitigation journey (all the way from impact analysis and climate risk management to Paris Alignment and transition planning).
• Support in the organization and delivery of events for the acceleration of financial sector decarbonization, by leveraging UNEP FI, and other partner capabilities.
• Support maturity analysis of emissions data capabilities and explore opportunities to advance those.
• Support to identify potential partners to support on gathering country specific data (e.g. GHG intensity factors and climate transition scenarios for specific sectors).
• Support preparing reporting materials and administrative tasks.
• Support with the translation of global UNEP FI materials to the local context.

Qualifications/special skills

Applicants must at the time of application meet one of the following requirements:

• Be enrolled in a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher);
• Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree program (minimum Bachelor's level or equivalent);
• Have graduated with a university degree and, if selected, must commence the internship within a one-year period of graduation.

Academic background in finance, environmental science, business administration, international relations, financial services or environmental affairs. Industry certifications from accredited financial services and risk management institutes are highly valued.

Applicants to the UN Internship Programme are not required to have professional work experience. However, a field of study that is closely related to the type of internship that you are applying for is required.

Applicants must be a student in the final year of the first university degree (bachelor or equivalent), Master’s or Ph.D. Programme or equivalent, or have completed a Bachelor’s, Master’s or PH.D. Programme.

Do you meet any of the above criteria? If yes, please indicate which one and attach proof to the application. Please note that you will have to provide an official certificate at a later stage.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this internship, fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of another UN Language is desirable. Spanish, French and Arabic are also desirable languages for this internship.

Additional Information

• A Completed application (Personal History Profile) and Cover Note, through the UN careers Portal. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. The Cover Note must include:

  • Title of the degree you are currently pursuing
  • Graduation Date
  • IT skills and programmes you are proficient in
  • Explain why you are the best candidate for this specific internship
  • Explain your interest in the United Nations Internship Programme, ensure to include all past work experience (if any).

• Proof of enrollment from current University (if not graduated).

• A copy of the degree certificate (if you have already graduated).

No working experience is required to apply for the United Nations Internship Programme. Your training, education, advance course work or skills should benefit the United Nations during your internship.

Assessment

Potential candidates will be contacted by the hiring manager directly for further consideration.

Special Notice

Your application for this internship must include:

• A Completed application (Candidate Profile) through the UN careers Portal. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.
  In your Personal History Profile (CP), be sure to include all past work experiences, IT Skills, and three references.
• Proof of enrollment (click on link to access and attach to your application: http://unon.org/content/internship-programme)
• List the IT skills and programmes that you are proficient in using, and Explain why you are the best candidate for the internship and what you hope to gain from the internship.
• A certified copy of degree certificate (if you have already graduated).

Due to a high volume of applications received, ONLY successful candidates will be contacted.

Intern Specific text

Interns are not financially remunerated by the United Nations. Costs and arrangements for travel, visas, accommodation and living expenses are the responsibility of interns or their sponsoring institutions. Interns who are not citizens or permanent residents of the country where the internship is undertaken, may be required to obtain the appropriate visa and work/employment authorization. Successful candidates should discuss their specific visa requirements before accepting the internship offer.

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