2024 International Climate Development Institute (ICDI)
Host Organization: International Climate Development Institute (ICDI)
Website: https://www.icdi.network/
Organization Profile: The International Climate Development Institute (ICDI), established in 2015, is an international non-governmental organization. With 13 associates, ICDI provides developmental solutions on climate issues, asserts the right of climate development under climate change, and utilizes these solutions to benefit the people involved justly.
Our organization focuses on addressing climate change and various social issues related to climate change, including environmental, health, safety, communal security, urban sustainability and energy waste issues.
Regarding environmental issues, it consists of a wide range of problems toward natural habitats and human living spaces. Such problems are caused by rising temperatures, creating notable impacts globally, specifically in sub-tropical and tropical regions. As for health, safety, and communal security issues, communities and vulnerable groups are most likely to be affected by climate change and environmental hazards. These challenges threaten the wellbeing of humanity, particularly towards one’s physical and mental health, safety, and security. Finally, the relations between climate change, energy waste and the lack of urban sustainability can be referred excessive amounts of carbon emissions throughout the past few decades.
Out of concern for climate change and human development rights, and based on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), we aim to provide professional expertise in climate governance. We seek to provide policy recommendations, innovative technologies, and research outcomes to assist communities, businesses, individuals, governments, and international cities in building capacity for adaptation and mitigation strategies. Our goal is to advance "climate action for all" and enable society as a whole to move towards a climate-resilient sustainable life.
ICDI's climate action direction covers global climate policies and practices, as well as Taiwan's climate actions and international connections, climate talent cultivation, and climate education. We are also dedicated to promoting the climate service industry, climate finance, and the transition to a green economy. Through various activities such as publications, policy research, technological innovation, and social engagement, we aim to promote climate governance issues in diverse forms, with a focus on the local in line with the international perspective.
City: Taipei
Internship format: In-person
Internship Department: Policy Research and Analysis Department
Department profile: With the main mission of supporting the government in climate change policy planning and decision making, the Policy Research and Analysis Department seeks to provide consulting services and policy advice, including research results, action plans and the implementation measures of policies. We host forums/expo to exchange practical experiences and encourage stakeholders to invest in mitigating climate change and raise public awareness. In addition, we provide trainings and capacity building for public and private sectors at different levels.
Project description:
- Project 1: Climate Service Project of Green Buildings-climate data website service for energy use analysis of green BIM
BIM (Building Information Modeling) is an intelligent 3D model-based process that gives architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) professionals the insight and tools to plan better efficiently, design, construct, and manage buildings and infrastructure.
The GreenBIM project officially established a connection with the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in the United States and introduced the Building Efficiency Targeting Tool for Energy Retrofits (BETTER) tool to develop a localized building energy efficiency improvement analysis tool tailored to the specific conditions of Taiwan, known as "Taiwan BETTER."
Incorporated with hourly local weather data, energy analysis software can model heating, cooling, ventilation, lighting, and water. Simulating the thermal environment and energy consumption of the building to adjust the original design and increase energy efficiency.
This project aims to assist architects to consider the climate and environmental impacts as well as energy waste in preliminary design stages. To carry out more accurate analysis, this project aims to promote the creation of virtual weather stations with high resolution in the coming years.
*Task: Collecting global energy-saving cases or practices regarding energy management of new or existing buildings utilizing weather forecasting data.
- Project 2: Research of Community-Based Adaptation in Taiwan-Study on Climate Risk Adaptation Options of Communities and Implementation Strategy Recommendations
Since 2016, ICDI has cooperated with local governments, community colleges and civil communities to provide assistance in capacity building, energy transformation, and development of adaptation strategies to disadvantaged groups to help them move towards a sustainable life with climate resilience.
This project aims to assist local governments in making inclusive policies by collecting and analyzing important international information and support local communities to develop adaptation strategies
*Task: Collecting case studies of global CBA practices of vulnerable groups.
- Project 3: A study of Taiwan strategy development of international cooperation on meteorology under global climate change issues
This report collects the information of international meteorological organizations across the world (e.g. WMO, ECMWF, IFMS, and UNFCCC etc.) and other important activities (e.g., COP, APEC). The report aims to provide concrete advice to Central Weather Bureau (CWB) based on the collected information. In addition, this project helps CWB and Taiwanese Government to participate in international conferences, to develop international cooperation with APEC members, NGO organizations, and other countries and societies.
*Task: Collecting information concerning COP meeting, such as its trend and issues, its future development under current political situation, and topics/ important issues/ development/ theme about the 2024 COP28 meeting.
- Project 4: Global Smart Solution Report (GSSR)
With the vision to put the commitment into practice and live up to sustainable development goals, the Global Smart Solution Report is to create opportunities for cities to exchange their urban challenges and share experiences to achieve sustainable city goal.
It aims to outline the diverse urban challenges and provides practical solutions applied to achieve their goals of inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable human settlements. The first report was launched in 2019 during COP24 and the 2019 Smart City Summit & Expo.
ICDI cooperates with partners for launching the annual publication, a brief version is presented at the Climate Change Conference, and an official report is published at the Smart City Forum and Exhibition of the Sustainable City Forum every year. (https://www.icdi.network/publi)
*Task: (1) Investigating smart solution projects from your cities and provide advice; contacting the city government and invite them to submit the solutions for the report; (2) Co-refining the content of the final report.
- Project 5: Climate Change Adaptation for Asia-Pacific region and International Cooperation on Meteorology
This project assists the Central Weather Bureau (CWB) of Taiwan Government to support Asia-Pacific Counties by enhancing their capacity in climate change adaptation and to identify opportunities for international cooperation.
*Task :(1) Collecting information of new Climate Change (or SDG) projects implemented in the Pacific/Southeast Asia region. Identifying active players in the region and analyzing their strategies; (2) Supporting strategy development for CWB in cooperation with other key players
- Project 6: 2024 Taiwan Climate Action Expo (TWCAE)
The TWCAE is a leading exhibition regarding to climate-related issues in Taiwan. With series of forums and activities taking place during the Expo. It gathers the people in Taiwan who care about the impact of climate change, including professionals, policy makers, NGO workers, and climate activists, entrepreneurs from industries, government, academia, and research institutions. The Expo provides a great platform for people to initiate dialogues and showcase their strategies and experiences of climate adaptation and mitigation.
The 2024 expo will be held in October in Taipei. During the 3 days’ exhibition, there are a serious of events and forums related with climate issues to attract the public to exchange and share their experiences.
*Task: Assisting the preparation work of the expo and forums.
- Project 7: Publications and E-newsletter
As public attention of climate issues is rising, ICDI publishes E-Newsletter to provide information of major global climate developments, aiming to raise citizens’ literacy on climate change knowledge.
Climate and Finance bimonthly report
The publication aims to provide the latest global trend of climate safety, sustainable development, and green economy issues, such as of Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD)'s reports, to make Taiwan more resilient.
Since debuted in December 2020, Climate and Finance is recognized by experts and is shared by Facebook users.
Task: Collecting global climate finance policies, cases, and practices.
ICDI newsletter
International Climate Development Institute publishes “ICDI E-Newsletter” to provide information of major international climate developments, aiming to promote citizens’ awareness on climate change, and learning from global climate change actions.
Subscribed readers are from academic institutions, civic groups, and private enterprises, etc., and continues to increase.
*Task: Collecting global climate change news, reports, and activities.
Number of Opening(s): 2
Work Hours and Internship Start/End Dates: (Monday to Friday, June 17 – August 23, 2024): Full Time (40hours) /Five days a week
Work attire: Casual
Local language: Mandarin
Local language level needed: Basic reading, writing, and speaking (one-year level at Stanford)
Additional desired intern qualifications:
- Willing to learn and interested in climate change issues.
- Responsible for research and providing insights of the Taiwan Climate Change Policy.
- Responsible for own task tracking and meeting deadlines, as well as providing necessary support to the research team.
- Ability to identify and analyze problems, and provide solutions to improve the project.
- Basic mandarin skills, including reading, writing, and speaking.
- Apply on Slideroom
- In SlideRoom click “apply now”. You will need to create an account to complete the application.
- Stanford strongly recommends the Covid-19 vaccinations for students. Policies regarding travel (domestic or international) and international internships will be updated as University policies evolve. Visit International Affairs Health Advisories for the most current travel guidance and restrictions for international travel.
- Travel Reservations : All interns are strongly encouraged to utilize Stanford Travel, a centralized booking program, when booking airfare, hotels, or rental cars for their internship experiences.
- Students must be enrolled at Stanford in the quarter when they apply for an internship opportunity (Winter), and will need to be enrolled in undergraduate study in the quarter when grant funding is disbursed (Spring). Applicants participating in off-campus Stanford programs are welcome to apply, but it is the responsibility of the applicant to compile, collate, and submit a complete application.
- Internship participants must certify that they are in good academic standing, and may not participate in the program or receive or retain internship stipends if they are on suspension.
- International students must consult with Bechtel about interning in the U.S. or traveling out of the U.S. in the summer.
- The Program is open to all undergraduate students. Seniors or co-terms are eligible as long as they do not confer their undergraduate degrees until after they complete their internships to remain eligible. Coterm students must still have undergraduate status. Positions in South Asia and Iranian Studies are also open to Master's students in all majors. Positions in East Asia are open to MA students majoring in East Asian Studies. Note: Only seniors who will be returning to coterm for all of next year, are eligible to apply for positions in Belgium and Estonia.
- Participants must be current Stanford students during the internship period. Seniors and graduating Master's students must postpone graduation paperwork until the internship ends, but may participate in commencement. For summer graduation requirements, including details regarding enrollment requirements and information about participation in the June commencement ceremonies, students should contact their major department's student services office and Registrar's Office for graduation quarter petition.
- Local language skills are based on the internship description requirements.
- Global Studies minors receive preference for the program.
- Preferably, before beginning their internships, selected candidates should have taken at least one course regarding the internship region. The course can be taken in the quarter prior to the internship.
- Interns must commit to full-time work (a minimum of 35 hours per week) for at least 8 weeks.
- To be eligible for a stipend, students must maintain health insurance for the duration of their internship.
- Violations of Global Studies Internship Program policies are also violations of the Fundamental Standard and may be referred to the Office of Community Standards. Students who fail to abide by the policies set forth by the Global Studies Internship Program, Stanford Global Studies, and Stanford University will have low priority or no longer be eligible for future Stanford Global Studies funding opportunities and programs. The Global Studies Internship Program reserves the right to rescind funding at any given point and time should they be apprised of any policy violations as outlined above.
- Stanford reserves the right to cancel or modify the program before or during its operation for any reason, including natural disasters, emergencies, or compliance with the University travel policy: “For undergraduate students, Stanford-sponsored or Stanford-organized trips are prohibited to countries or regions and locations within a country where International SOS risk rating (either the medical risk or travel risk) is “High” or “Extreme,” or where there is other reliable information of significant health or safety risks for either the country destination, or for the particular region or location of intended travel within the country destination, or where there is other reliable information of significant health or safety risks. To determine a location’s International SOS medical and travel risk ratings, click “Risk Ratings” and select the destination country (immediately below and to the left of “Learn About Your Risks”).
- No university funds or resources may be used, university sponsorship provided, or academic credit awarded, in support of travel to these locations. All individuals engaging in university-sponsored travel must comply with all applicable travel policies.”
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