As of 2008, over half the global population was residing in towns and cities where access to clean water, energy and proper waste disposal are of paramount importance.  As the global population breaks the 7 billion mark, the efficient use of natural resources and sustainable planning have become increasingly important. This growth in population is occurring simultaneously with the global rise in temperature; responsible for disruption in food production, water resources, the environment, and the normal migration and location patterns of birds, insects and other species.

The Climate Change Professional Fellows Program is an international fellowship program that convenes professionals from four Pacific countries—Australia, China, Indonesia and Japan—and the United States to explore the science, impact, adaptation, mitigation and policies related to climate change. The program is funded by US State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

The goal of the Professional Fellows Program is to create opportunities for professionals in the field of climate change to come together to share information, identify best practices and strategies for reducing carbon emissions and to explore ways to educate the public, policy makers and opinon leaders about the challenges and dangers climate change presents. The Fellows will then share experiences and knowledge gained from Climate Change Fellows Program with others professionals and organizations in their home countries upon return.

Climate Change Professional Fellows from Abroad

A total of 21 climate change professionals, in two separate groups, will spend 5 weeks in the United States meeting with professionals working in fields related to climate change and learning about this country’s diversity, visiting its cultural institutions and historical sites and participating in a two-day “Congress” in Washington DC, organized by the US Department of State. The Congress brings together over 200 Professional Fellows visiting the US and provides the opportunity to share ideas and meet individuals from other countries and different fields of interest.  The two separate cohorts of fellows will visit the US from April 3- May 5, 2011 and from September 19 – October 21, 2011.

Climate Change Professional Fellows from United States

A total of 16 climate change professionals from the US will also visit the four participating countries.  Each cohort, comprised of four US participants, will each visit one of the countries and spend three weeks meeting with professionals involved in the field, and learning about the history, goverance and culture of the country. The US groups visited China July 18 – August 5, 2011; Australia July 25 – August 12, 2011; visits to Indonesia and Japan will be in January/February 2012.

Internship Component

Those selected to serve as Climate Change Professional Fellows have already achieved some degree of experience and expertise in the climate change field.  They are interested in learning first-hand about projects currently underway in the US.  They also desire to share their professional experience and knowledge to provide international perspectives on how to successfully complete these projects. Internship providers have no financial obligations – the internships are unpaid.