Answering the Call to Climate Action as an EESI Intern | Article

I applied for the policy internship at the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) in May of 2020, not long after I graduated from Ohio State University, when I was unsure of where to go next. When I applied, I had substantial general experience in public policy but I still felt like I had no “home” in it—no core issue area personal to me that I wanted to focus on. I had a strong personal interest in environmental and climate policy, but my academic and professional experience in it was limited.

Joseph Glandorf

Thankfully, EESI granted me the opportunity to take on the policy internship—an opportunity I know will continue to benefit me for a long time to come. My time at EESI helped me dive deeply into environmental and climate policy, enabling me to feel more closely and personally connected to this work and identify what I find most meaningful within it. It also helped me bolster my writing skills and professional confidence.

As a policy intern, I got to explore a ton of fascinating topics—ranging from the climate benefits of “blue carbon” ecosystems to the challenges and opportunities of electric vehicles—and my research and writing resulted in over a dozen published articles. One memorable research experience was getting to interview staff from the sustainability programs of my home city of Cincinnati for an article about Cincinnati’s noteworthy climate and environmental justice initiatives. Writing this piece helped me feel more connected to the important work happening in the city I’d lived in most of my life and the people doing that work. I was glad to be able to use the platform that EESI offers to both bring greater awareness to these initiatives and advance the climate conversation in my local community.

Another especially meaningful part of my internship was writing about environmental justice. I had no familiarity with environmental justice approaches or the history of the environmental justice movement prior to my EESI internship, and I will always be grateful to EESI for exposing me to these subjects. I was profoundly moved by Congressional hearings with members of frontline communities—disproportionately communities of color—who are the most exposed to environmental harm from polluting industries and climate change. As we work to address climate change and toxic pollution, these are the individuals whose experiences we must center, and to whom policymakers and advocates must be accountable, if we want to achieve durable solutions that will ensure a just society for all.

Beyond the work itself, a major highlight of this internship was the EESI staff. The staff members I worked with were deeply kind and helpful, always striving to create a welcoming and engaging environment despite us all working from home due to COVID-19, and always willing to share helpful resources with interns. After my internship ended, staff members on my team continued to check in and offer helpful tips and resources on navigating the job search, which I believe was instrumental to my success in landing a position.

Currently, I work as the Foundation and Corporate Grants Administrator for YWCA Columbus, a nonprofit organization offering homeless shelter services, education programs, and social justice and advocacy initiatives. While my work does not directly focus on climate change, the social inequities YWCA Columbus works to overcome are closely connected with the climate crisis, and my time at EESI continues to inform the way I understand and communicate about these issues in my current work. Moreover, the extensive research and writing I undertook at EESI was excellent practice for writing and editing grant applications on tight deadlines. And outside of my job, I also have continued to pursue climate action by getting involved with Sunrise Columbus—the local chapter of the Sunrise Movement, a rapidly growing youth climate activist organization.

Confronting the climate crisis head-on can feel extremely daunting. But one of the most helpful things anyone can have in this crisis is knowing that someone is there to support you when you need it most. Based on my experiences, I believe EESI answers this call—for the organizations and people who rely on its work, and for its interns.

Author: Joseph Glandorf