Data-Driven Research to Improve Global Sustainability
The Yale Center for Environmental Law & Policy, a joint research initiative between Yale School of the Environment and Yale Law School, welcomes applicants who are enthusiastic about researching data-driven environmental policies to contribute to the 2024 Environmental Performance Index (EPI).
The EPI is a biennial analysis that ranks 180 countries on 40 indicators spanning diverse environmental issues such as climate change mitigation, environmental health, agricultural sustainability, and biodiversity protection. These indicators track trends in environmental performance and provide scorecards on how close countries are to meeting established environmental targets. Our transparent and robust analyses provide practical guidance for countries that aspire to move toward a sustainable future. Research assistants will work with Professor Klee and Dr. Sebastián Block to develop new metrics that quantify global trends in critical environmental issues like greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation, air pollution, waste management, and sustainable fisheries. Depending on the research assistant’s interests and background, possible research tasks include:
- Geospatial and statistical analyses of global and subnational data;
- Exploration of the racial inequities of environmental degradation;
- Ranking countries based on environmental impacts and performance;
- Performing literature reviews and assisting in writing manuscripts on issues relating to sustainable development.
Requisite skills and qualifications:
Applicants should have excellent writing skills, strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and interests in sustainable development and data-driven environmental policy. These positions require flexibility to rapidly research and produce written deliverables in support of the Center’s research agenda. Ideally, candidates will have some experience performing independent research in environmental science, policy, or economics.