Climate Action Fellows (CAF) Program

About the Climate Action Fellows Program

The UC President’s Bonnie Reiss Climate Action Fellows Program funds student-generated projects that support the UC system’s climate action goals. All 10 UC campuses, five academic health centers, plus the UC Office of the President, UC Agriculture and Natural Resources and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory participate in the program. The program, which began in spring 2015, is open to both undergraduate and graduate students, and administered at each location to ensure that student efforts align with local needs.

*The Climate Action Fellows program was previously known as the Carbon Neutrality Fellow program. These fellowships continue to advance UC climate action and engagement, just under a new, more descriptive, and more inclusive name.

Climate Action Fellow Project Types

Each UC campus selects fellow projects that support the GCLC’s current priorities. These currently include the following fellow types:  

  • Student Engagement Fellows support efforts to engage students in the UC climate action goals. They will communicate about and generate support for climate action-related projects. Engagement Fellows play an important role in communicating student opinions on UC’s climate policy, programs, and actions to university leadership. 
  • Planning (Resilience/CAP) Fellows work on projects related to completing the location’s deliverables under the Equity-Centered Climate Resilience Planning Project (or similar work) and developing the location’s 2025 Climate Action Plans. 
  • Decarbonization Fellows work on projects that support the development and implementation of the location’s decarbonization study and/or  work on research or other projects that will directly reduce a location’s greenhouse gas emissions to support meeting the location's emission reduction targets. 

 

Considering applying?  You may also be interested in our other fellowship opportunity - Sustainable Agriculture and Food Fellows Program. Click here for more information.

Climate Action Fellows at UC Davis

At UC Davis, Climate Action Fellows contribute to a variety of new and ongoing projects and activities in support of the campus' sustainability priorities guided heavily by the priorities and policy recommendations provided in the UC Policy on Sustainable Practices.

Program Details and Application Materials

Leading on Climate Student Fellowship Program Guidelines and Responsibilities 2024-25
  • This Guidelines & Responsibilities document released by the UC Office of the President (UCOP) provides a detailed overview of general responsibilities for Bonnie Reiss Leading on Climate Fellowships - Climate Action Fellows and Sustainable Agriculture & Food Fellows.

UC Davis Climate Action Fellows (CAF) Program - Call for Applications

  • Updated annually, this call for applications describes specific projects available for selected Climate Action Fellows. 
Climate Action Fellows (CAF) Program Application Form
  • This Application Form must accompany the application submitted on Handshake. 

Fellowship Benefits

  • Fellows are each awarded $5000, distributed incrementally during Fall, Winter, and Spring quarters

Eligibility

  • Graduate and undergaduate students are eligible.
  • Full-time enrolled UC Davis students in good academic standing. 
  • Applications will be reviewed on the basis of several applicant characteristics, including but not limited to commitment to and familiarity with climate action principles, collaborative spirit, demonstrated ability to contribute to a team, likelihood to successfully accomplish fellowship project goals, maturity, and attention to detail.
  • International students are eligible, though special accommodations may need to be made regarding financial award eligibility

To apply:

  1. Apply to Handshake Job #9187269

  2. Include in your application each of the following documents. Please be sure to upload each document in PDF format, labeled with a descriptive filename that includes your last name and the contents of the document. For example “[YOURLASTNAME]_CAF_Application_Form”

    • Climate Action Fellows (CAF) Program Application form
    • Current resume or CV
    • Current advising transcripts (an official transcript is NOT required
    • Work Sample. A 1-2 page work sample that demonstrates writing, communication skills, creativity skills, and/or organizational skills relevant to this position. This work sample may be something produced for a course, previous employer, or other professional context. 

Application deadline revised.

Application review begins Monday, September 16 and continues until all positions are filled OR until Tuesday, October 15.

Questions? If you have questions, please contact: Carla Fresquez ccfresquez@ucdavis.edu  

Current Fellows (2024-25)

  • TBD

 

Former Fellows

  • 2023-24

  • Natalie Aguilar, Undergraduate, Environmental Policy Analysis and Planning (EPAP) & Spanish

    Anne Saltel, Undergraduate, Community and Regional Development

    Thomas Snyder, PhD student, Anthropology,

    Daphne Condon, PhD student, Energy Systems, Energy Graduate Group

    Kriti Shah, Masters student, Environmental Policy and Management

    JieQi Yan, Masters student, Environmental Policy and Management

  • 2022-23

  • Natalie Aguilar, Undergraduate, Environmental Policy Analysis and Planning (EPAP) & Spanish

    Annika Denyer, Undergraduate, Sustainable Environmental Design

    Natalie Kataoka, Masters student, Environmental Policy and Management

    Annika Krueger, Masters student, Environmental Policy and Management

    Andy Li, Undergraduate, Economics 
    Nadiyah Helal, Undergraduate, Civil Engineering

 

Tags

Carbon Neutrality Initiative Student Fellowship