Climate Change and Methane Policy Fellow - Center for Law, Energy & Environment -School of Law

The Climate Change and Methane Policy Fellow at UC Berkeley's Center for Law, Energy & Environment will focus on methane emissions reduction research and policy implementation at various levels. Responsibilities include conducting research, collaborating with government and NGOs, developing frameworks, and promoting methane action initiatives. The position emphasizes applied research in environmental law and policy, contributing to solutions for climate challenges. This role is based in Berkeley, CA.
At Berkeley Law, we are committed to excellence in education and scholarship, as well as equality of opportunity. We believe we have a responsibility to use our substantial intellectual capital to help solve real-world problems and to create a more just society through clinics, research, and policy engagement. We believe that a Berkeley Law degree is a tool for change, both locally and globally, and that we should be educating the leaders of tomorrow. We maintain an environment that nurtures academic and personal growth, respects a diversity of ideas, and stimulates independent thought and critical reasoning.

The Center for Law, Energy & the Environment (CLEE) is based at the UC Berkeley School of Law, which benefits from one of the leading environmental law programs in the nation. Building on UC Berkeley’s history of and commitment to research and public service, CLEE leverages the intellectual resources of Berkeley faculty and students in furtherance of applied research in a variety of environmental and energy law and policy areas. CLEE’s research priorities include combating climate change, advancing sustainable energy, addressing water allocation and management challenges, and sustaining healthy oceans, among other pressing environmental and energy challenges.

The Climate Change and Methane Policy Research Fellow will focus on multiple aspects of methane emissions reduction at the local, state, national, and international level, with the intent to move solutions to policy and scale, including with the Subnational Methane Action Coalition (SMAC). The fellow will conduct research and work with government and NGO partners to identify barriers to implementation of solutions, including political, technological, regulatory, and educational. The fellow will work closely with CLEE climate program leads on methane emission reduction actions in multiple sectors. Tasks may include development of frameworks and protocols for methane emission reduction for coal, oil and gas, landfill, and agriculture; methane emission inventories and data transparency (including satellite data); promotion of international agreements, including legal research, work with partners, and drafting; creation and maintenance of website with best practices and clearinghouse of methane information; developing strategies for increased visibility of methane action; drafting legislation; convening experts; promoting pilot projects; and industry outreach. The fellow may also work on other climate issues, time permitting. The exact responsibilities will vary based on the evolution of various initiatives, the expertise and experience of the selected research fellow, and in response to the ongoing evolution of the field.

Primary Responsibilities:

The responsibilities of the Climate Change and Methane Policy fellow will include:
• Engaging in a variety of activities to support the ongoing project research and implementation, particularly in conjunction with SMAC;
• Conducting research on methane emission issues and solutions, including policy, science, law, and technology, under the direction of and in collaboration with CLEE team members, affiliates, and other experts in relevant fields, and in conjunction with SMAC;
• Developing projects and initiatives in collaboration with CLEE team members;
• Drafting outputs in a variety of possible formats, ranging from framing papers to blog posts to social media posts, and providing website updates;
• Working with CLEE climate program leads in organizing and facilitating meetings, workshops, and other convenings with subject matter experts, particularly in conjunction with SMAC;
• Reports, etc. to sponsors, media, and nongovernmental, governmental, academic, and/or stakeholder communities as needed;
• Assisting with other miscellaneous aspects of project activities as appropriate;
• Working closely with staff from the State of California focused on methane emissions;
• Some work with AI as applicable.