Ceres Tech Sector Sustainability Working Group Intern
The Bekenstein intern at Ceres will support an internal Tech Sector Sustainability Working Group design and develop new projects focused on making tech companies more sustainable including addressing major climate and water risks.
Ceres believes that there is a time-sensitive opportunity to alert institutional investors about the rapid growth of energy and water consumption in the tech industry, which is jeopardizing the availability of freshwater, the elimination of greenhouse gases (GHG) from the power grid, the health of people and communities, and the integrity of natural ecosystems. The explosive growth of AI, the rapid deployment of data centers, and sharply increasing demand for semiconductors also threaten the integrity of corporate climate and sustainability commitments, undermining the prospects of near- and medium-term progress against GHG emissions reduction and water stewardship goals.
Ceres has an extensive track record of successfully generating pressure from institutional investors to encourage their portfolio companies to engage their supply chains on sustainability challenges. In comparison to other industries where Ceres has used this strategy – the food and agriculture sector, for example – Ceres’ experience has shown that the tech sector is well behind the curve in terms of recognizing and using the influence that consumer-facing companies have on their suppliers. Downstream companies contend that the societal impacts of data center deployment, semiconductor fabrication, and rare earth element and metals extraction are just externalities. Ceres’ role is to elevate the issue on the agendas of institutional investors to show that these risks need to be priced in and appropriately addressed because they are financially material to the success and prospects of a given tech company.
This intern will support the Working Group by:
- Conducting analysis and research
- Writing briefs, memos, and other research and analytical materials
- Coordinating Working Group activities across teams at Ceres
- Organizing engagements with tech sector companies, investors, NGOs, policy makers, and other key stakeholders.
Qualifications
- Interest in environmental or sustainability issues
- Strong administrative, organizational, communication, and time-management skills.
- Demonstrated ability to take initiative, prioritize, multitask, and meet deadlines.
- Effective verbal and written communication skills and effective presentation style.
- Knowledge of quantitative and/or qualitative research methods a plus.
- Excellent analytical skills and ability to comprehend, synthesize, and communicate complex sustainability issues.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
- Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel), databases, and e-mail computer applications.
- Candidates must be flexible to work with employees in all US time zones.
Timeline
- Week 1 : Landscape analysis
- Weeks 1-2 : Research & Analysis
- Week 3 : Focus List development
- Weeks 4-5 : Benchmarking
- Weeks 6-7 : Draft memo with summary findings
- Weeks 8-9 : Stakeholder outreach
- Weeks 10-12 : Organize stakeholder meetings
- Weeks 1-12 : Cross team coordination
(Note: High-level timeline that would be refined with the intern.)
Background
Ceres is a nonprofit advocacy organization working to accelerate the transition to a cleaner, more just, and sustainable economy. We make the business case for ac-on on the greatest sustainability challenges facing our world today: climate change, water scarcity and pollution, and nature and biodiversity loss. We inspire the world’s most influential investors and companies with the greatest impact on our economy to urgently act on these threats and take advantage of the business opportunities in the transition. United under a shared vision, our powerful networks of investors and companies are proving sustainability is the bottom line—changing markets and sectors from the inside out.
