Climate Action Plan Intern

Job Title: Climate Action Plan Intern

Department: San Diego Chapter

Location: San Diego, CA

Reports to: Charles Rilli

Duration: 20hrs/wk 14 weeks

Context: At the Sierra Club, we believe in the power of interdependence. Together, we remain committed to the fight for a healthy climate built on a foundation of environmental, racial, economic, and gender justice – a future where all people benefit from a healthy, thriving planet and a direct connection to nature. As the climate crisis and deeply entrenched systemic racism all fuel injustice, we will continue to fight for a bold, transformational agenda that recognizes the interconnectedness between our planet, our humanity, and our future. By recognizing that our destinies are tied, we continue to name that all things are fundamentally connected, and the overlap between ecology, race, gender, and representative government will move to either advance our collective humanity or to oppress it. Sierra Club has close to 800 staff across the country and a network of 64 local chapters that are led and fueled by thousands of volunteers. We are also proud to be a unionized employer, with three labor unions representing more than half of our employees.

Scope: This internship will be housed within the San Diego Chapter and will focus specifically on supporting the review, implementation, and advocacy related to municipal Climate Action Plans (CAPs) across San Diego County. The intern will contribute research, analysis, and outreach efforts as part of our ongoing climate justice initiatives.

• Conduct research, review, and analyze Climate Action Plans (CAPs) and their implementation across local jurisdictions in San Diego County.
• Track municipal climate policy developments and attend public agency meetings (e.g., city council, planning commission), providing summaries and recommendations.
• Support engagement with community members and Sierra Club volunteers, including the development of outreach materials that make local climate planning accessible and actionable.
• Prepare memos, summaries, fact sheets, or issue briefs on CAP topics such as decarbonization, transportation emissions, energy planning, and equity metrics.
• Participate in weekly team meetings and optional skills development trainings.
• Help the Sierra Club San Diego Climate Committee continue to advance successful climate actions in San Diego county.

• Strong interest in local government policy, sustainability, or environmental justice.
• Passion for climate action and environmental activism. 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Proficiency in Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets) or equivalent software.

• Bilingual skills (especially Spanish).
• Familiarity with San Diego County jurisdictions and their climate plan.

To Apply

The Sierra Club provides equal employment and advancement opportunities to all staff members. Employment decisions are based on merit, qualifications, lived experience and skills. The Sierra Club does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, immigration status, socioeconomic status, ancestry, age, size, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, familial status, veteran status, disability, AIDS/HIV status, medical condition, prior conviction, arrest history, traits historically associated with race, including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles, or any other characteristic protected by law.

The Sierra Club values applicants who are people that identify as Black, Indigenous, and other minoritized groups; women; queer, transgender, gender non-conforming, and gender fluid people.

Explore, enjoy and protect the planet.