Policy Intern (Global Carbon Markets)

Job Description

Carbon Market Watch's mission is to ensure that carbon pricing and other climate policies cut pollution and drive a just transition towards zero-carbon societies. Given the urgency of halting the climate breakdown, we want market-based climate policies to fulfil their promise and be used in a wise combination with regulatory and incentivising measures.

Our strengths lie in evidence-based advocacy to improve climate policies, turning complex issues into comprehensible messages, and helping people understand and influence those policies.

Purpose of the position

This traineeship aims to complement the trainee's theoretical education and help them orientate their careers in environmental advocacy, campaigning, and project work.

We are seeking a dynamic, creative, and enthusiastic intern to support our European policy work. The intern will report to a thematic policy expert and liaise with the entire CMW team.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Monitoring and analysing relevant developments related to carbon markets, in particular in relation to carbon credits: their quality and their use by companies and countries. The work will touch in particular on carbon credits from the voluntary carbon market (possibly also credits under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement) and where these interact with corporate decarbonisation plans and relevant government policies
• Support research
• Support the preparation of policy and communications materials, including briefings, online articles, audiovisual content
• Participation in and help with the organisation of relevant events (webinars or in-person events)
• Help maintain contact with various stakeholders (NGOs, business organisations, policymakers, journalists, etc). This includes attending different types of events
• Support the organisation with capacity-building activities

Professional and Personal Attributes

Essential requirements

• Completed relevant university studies or first relevant professional experience. Please note that applicants currently enrolled in a higher education institution are not eligible for this internship ("professional immersion")
• Proficiency in written and spoken English; additional languages are considered an advantage
• Residence in Belgium and ability to work in/from our office in Brussels under a hybrid work regime (2 days of work in the office per week as a general rule)

Useful characteristics

• Prior volunteering experience and/or experience working with an NGO
• Some knowledge and understanding of carbon credits
• Some knowledge of and considerable interest in climate policies and carbon markets
• Some knowledge and experience of project management and/or delivery
• Self-motivated, proactive, well organised
• Able to work independently and as part of a team
• Strong interpersonal skills

What we offer

• Starting date: early February 2026
• 6-month "professional immersion" contract, full-time
• Compensated in line with Belgian provisions (1320 EUR/month net), food vouchers amounting to ???8/worked day and full reimbursement of public transport
• 10 days extra-legal holidays
• Working from home allowance
• A working and learning experience adapted to the intern's skills and interests
• An exciting opportunity to work with a dynamic, friendly, expert team and learn about the complex operations required to support our research, advocacy and project leadership

Application process

Qualified applicants should fill out this form and upload their motivation letter and CV (place the two in a single PDF document with your name in the document name). The application should outline their motivation, skills, areas of interest, and availability.

Your application will be acknowledged, but we will not respond to individual enquiries and only get back to candidates who have been shortlisted for an interview. We are committed to enhancing diversity and inclusion in our organisation and strongly encourage candidates from diverse backgrounds and minorities to apply.