Applications are now open for the 2026 Yale Emerging Climate Leaders Fellowship for Rising Leaders from the Global South!

Ednah Carrick June 19, 2025

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Closing Date: 1 August 2025

Applications are now open for the 2026 Yale Emerging Climate Leaders Fellowship for Rising Leaders from the Global South!

Overview

The Yale International Leadership Center is now accepting applications for its 2026 cohort of the Yale Emerging Climate Leaders Fellowship!

If you are a climate professional from an emerging or developing country working to advance solutions in policy, business, science, engineering, energy, finance, or civil society – apply!

This highly selective program brings together 16 accomplished professionals from across the climate sector to deepen their technical knowledge, sharpen their leadership skills, and build lasting connections across sectors and disciplines. As a Fellow, you’ll become part of Yale’s community of world-class researchers and thought leaders, and gain access to an unparalleled network of like-minded professionals.

Emerging Climate Leaders Fellowship

The five-month program brings together a diverse group of talented young clean energy and climate leaders from emerging countries. The Yale Emerging Climate Leaders Fellowship offers an opportunity for 16 young climate and clean energy practitioners from across the Global South to broaden their technical skills, deepen their professional networks, and exchange views with top global clean energy and climate change leaders.

Climate Fellows are drawn from a wide variety of professions, ranging from public servants to entrepreneurs, energy company professionals, financiers, journalists, educators, researchers, civil society representatives, legal advisers, and legislators.

This five-month, three-part initiative is based out of Yale’s International Leadership Center with partnerships throughout the university. Fellows engage with prominent Yale faculty and a network of top practitioners to explore key issues in the global clean energy and climate change agenda.

How To Apply

Admission is highly competitive. Each cohort of fellows is geographically balanced and represents a wide range of professions, talents, experience, cultures, people, and perspectives.

Application Requirements

Applicants should be between five and 10 years into their professional careers, with demonstrated accomplishments at a regional, national, or international level. While there is no minimum or maximum age requirement, Yale is looking for young leaders who are still on the rise in their careers.
Applicants must be representatives of the Global South. Yale looks forward to welcoming a diverse representation from developing Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America/Caribbean.
Applicants must be fluent in English. An excellent command of the English language is essential to successfully participating in the program.
Climate Fellows must be available to fully participate in all parts of the program, including in-person for two weeks of the program: the Yale Orientation week (February 16-20, 2026), and the Paris closing week (June 15-19, 2026). Fellows must also be available to participate in the five remote learning journeys and to work on a collaborative group project between March and June 2026.

Selection Criteria

An established record of achievement in a profession linked to clean energy and climate change. Yale seeks to identify a diverse group of Fellows from across multiple stakeholder groups, ranging from government officials, to entrepreneurs, energy company/utility professionals, bankers/financiers, journalists, educators/researchers, civil society representatives, legal advisors and legislators.
A commitment to making a positive impact at the local, national, or international level.
Demonstrated promise of a future career in leadership at both the national and potentially global level.
An eagerness to expand and deepen professional networks and to benefit from exposure to top global leaders in the clean energy and climate change space.

Application Process Overview

The application process for admission to the Climate Fellows Program is done entirely online. There are no paper forms to complete or mail.

There is no application fee or other cost to apply or participate. All fellows’ costs for Yale Orientation week and Paris closing week will be covered by the program (round-trip airfare, hotels, transfers and per-diem).