/The Climate Justice Fellowship

A 15-month fellowship offered by the Albert Einstein Institution and Right Livelihood that aims to address global climate justice issues using the principles of strategic nonviolent action.  

To support strategic and coordinated action among global climate justice movements, the Albert Einstein Institution (AEI) and Right Livelihood created the 15-month-long Climate Justice Fellowship for climate justice activists and organizers around the world. 

Building on AEI’s four decades of experience in helping movements develop effective nonviolent action strategies, the Fellowship aims to build strategic planning capacity and encourage solidarity and cooperation among climate activists and organizers.

What do Climate Justice Fellows do? 

The fellows engage with AEI staff and other partners to explore how the principles of strategic nonviolent action can be applied to climate justice struggles and campaigns. 

In monthly online convenings with AEI staff and other training partners, Climate Justice Fellows:  

  • Participate in workshops and discussions about strategic nonviolent action.

  • Explore case studies from past and current climate and social justice movements to understand key insights and best practices.

  • Share experiences and insights from their own climate campaigns and movements. 

During the Fellowship, AEI staff provides on-demand support and coaching that includes: 

  • Deep listening and interpretation of fellows’ grasp of the educational material.

  • Feedback on planning the implementation of new learnings.

What learning areas does the Climate Justice Fellowship focus on? 

The Fellowship’s educational sessions focus on the following key learning areas: 

  • The principles of strategic nonviolent action in which fellows: 

    • Gain an understanding of nonviolent action concepts and theory. 

    • Explore strategic planning tools, tactics, and processes. 

  • Methods and tactics of strategic nonviolent action in which fellows: 

    • Learn about categories of methods and their relationship to power.

    • Engage in tactical sequencing exercises. 

  • Mental health considerations during nonviolent campaigns in which fellows: 

    • Build skills and approaches to address mental health needs. 

Each cohort of fellows meets annually for a 3-day in-person meeting. This gathering allows fellows to engage with each other to better understand the conditions and issues faced by other groups in the climate movement ecosystem and discuss plans for action in their communities.  

The Climate Justice Fellowship works toward an overarching vision to use the principles of strategic nonviolent action to create space for connection between diverse climate justice issues, such as food and energy production, mobility, land-use, and conservation and social justice.

The 2022 Climate Justice Fellows gathered in Venice, Italy for a 3-day workshop on strategic nonviolent action.  

/FAQS

  • The 2023 application deadline has passed. A call for 2024 fellows will open in January 2024. Please check back when the application form becomes available.

  • We encourage anyone interested in using the principles of strategic nonviolent action to address the climate crisis to apply to the Climate Justice Fellowship program.

  • The fellowship program lasts 15 months from May to the end of July. It includes a 3-day in-person meeting in late June. During the last 3 months of the program, fellows get the chance to connect with the next cohort of fellows starting in May.

  • It’s not necessary to have experience organizing climate justice campaigns, but such experience can help strengthen an application.

  • Applicants are encouraged to express their interest in joining the fellowship. Applicants who indicate a lack of consistency with our values or approaches, or an unwillingness to commit to nonviolent action as a tool for positive change, will not be invited to join the program.

  • There is no cost associated with being a Climate Justice Fellow. Travel and accommodation costs will be covered for the annual in-person gathering. Fellows are expected to have access to Wi-Fi and be in a position to contribute electronically for the duration of the program.

  • No, this fellowship is focused on providing a space for learning and planning about strategic nonviolent action and how it can be effectively applied in diverse climate campaigns.

  • No, there is no age limit to participate in the Fellowship.

  • For general questions about the Climate Justice Fellowship, or the work of the Albert Einstein Institution, please contact Joseph Worthy from AEI at joe@aeinstein.org.

    For questions regarding the logistics of the program, or the application process, please contact Alexander Repenning from Right Livelihood at alexander.repenning@rightlivelihood.org.