Climate Communication Fellowship 2026: Applications Open for Cohort 2 in India
Climate change is one of the defining challenges of our time, but communicating about it effectively remains a major challenge. Scientific information alone does not always lead to action. People need stories, local context, relatable messages and meaningful ways to connect climate issues with their everyday lives.
Gaialink is addressing this communication gap through its Climate Communication Fellowship – Cohort 2, a six-week experiential programme designed for young Indian changemakers aged 18 to 35 who want to develop the skills needed to communicate climate issues and inspire action.
About the Climate Communication Fellowship
The Climate Communication Fellowship was launched in 2024 after Gaialink identified an important gap between climate knowledge and public action. Through workshops and conversations with communities, the organisation found that the challenge is often not a lack of information, but a lack of connection.
The fellowship therefore focuses on helping participants understand how people perceive climate change, how narratives influence behaviour and how communication can turn complex environmental issues into messages that people can understand and act upon.
Cohort 2 offers a six-week learning experience combining online sessions with practical field activities across Delhi-NCR.
Who Can Apply?
The programme is designed for young Indians between 18 and 35 years old. Applications are particularly relevant for students, young professionals, communicators, researchers, environmentalists, designers, media professionals and policy enthusiasts.
The fellowship also welcomes people from different backgrounds who are interested in climate action and believe that better communication can contribute to meaningful environmental change.
Applicants do not necessarily need to come from a traditional environmental background. The programme is also suitable for individuals interested in storytelling, psychology, communication, sustainability and social change.
What Will Fellows Learn?
The six-week curriculum takes participants from understanding the fundamentals of climate change to developing and presenting their own communication strategies.
During the first week, fellows explore the basics of climate science and communication. The programme examines why scientific facts alone have often failed to generate sufficient public action and introduces the importance of creating emotional and human connections.
The second week focuses on India’s climate reality, including local climate impacts, regional vulnerabilities and the importance of communicating environmental challenges through a local lens.
Week three explores psychology, behaviour and narrative framing. Participants examine cognitive biases, emotional responses and other factors that can influence climate action or inaction.
The fourth module looks at government climate policy, Nationally Determined Contributions and corporate communication. Fellows learn how to examine climate narratives and identify examples of greenwashing.
The fifth week focuses on transforming research into content. Participants learn how to select appropriate formats, communicate research effectively and develop distribution strategies that can increase the reach of climate-related content.
The final week brings everything together through campaign strategy development and pitch presentations.
A Practical and Experiential Learning Model
One of the distinguishing features of the fellowship is its emphasis on learning by doing. Instead of relying entirely on classroom-based learning, participants will take part in workshops, field visits, storytelling activities, empathy mapping exercises and campaign development.
Weekday sessions will take place online during evenings, while weekends will include hands-on experiences across Delhi-NCR. These experiences may include visits to urban forests and circular economy hubs, allowing fellows to connect communication concepts with real-world environmental initiatives.
This hybrid structure requires participants to commit approximately six to ten hours each week.
Experienced Speakers and Partners
Participants will have opportunities to learn from professionals working across climate communication, sustainability, environmental research, behaviour science, clean energy and communications.
The fellowship’s listed experts include professionals such as Ramneek Bhatia, Manu Maudgal, Itika Goyal, Bhavleen Singh, Ravi Kaushik, Sailee Rane, Nolan Pinto, Iraa Swasti and other specialists.
Gaialink has also partnered with organisations working across environmental sustainability and community action, including Habitat India, WRI, Goonj, Karo Sambhav, Airth, Momentum Shifts, Why Waste Wednesdays and other organisations.
These connections can provide fellows with exposure to different approaches to climate communication and sustainability.
Programme Details and Important Dates
The Climate Communication Fellowship is a six-week intensive programme delivered through a hybrid format.
Key details include:
- Programme: Climate Communication Fellowship, Cohort 2
- Eligibility: Young Indians aged 18–35
- Duration: Six weeks
- Time commitment: 6–10 hours per week
- Format: Hybrid
- Location: Delhi-NCR for field experiences
- Programme fee: INR 6,999
- Applications close: 2 September 2026
- Programme induction: 5 September 2026
- Programme completion: 17 October 2026
The programme timeline indicates that applications opened on 10 July, followed by an induction in September and graduation and certification in October.
Why Climate Communication Skills Matter
As climate change increasingly affects communities, economies and livelihoods, the ability to communicate environmental issues clearly is becoming increasingly important.
Governments, NGOs, businesses, research institutions and community organisations need professionals who can translate complex information into accessible and compelling messages.
Climate communication skills can therefore be useful for people pursuing careers in environmental advocacy, sustainability, policy, journalism, communications, ESG, education, research and social impact.
The fellowship’s emphasis on psychology, storytelling and systems thinking also recognises that effective climate communication is about more than presenting statistics. It requires understanding audiences and developing messages that connect climate challenges with people’s experiences.
How to Apply
Young Indians aged 18 to 35 who are interested in developing their climate communication skills can apply for Cohort 2 before the 2 September 2026 deadline.
Because the programme includes weekend field experiences across Delhi-NCR, prospective applicants should consider whether they can participate in both the online sessions and in-person activities.
The programme also has a participation fee of INR 6,999, so applicants should review the full programme information and requirements before submitting an application.
The Climate Communication Fellowship provides an opportunity for young changemakers to strengthen their understanding of climate issues while developing practical communication, storytelling and campaign strategy skills. For participants interested in connecting environmental knowledge with public engagement and real-world action, Cohort 2 offers a structured six-week platform to learn, collaborate and build a network of climate-focused peers and professionals.
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Disclaimer: Remote Job Opportunities (RJO) is not the organization offering this opportunity. For any inquiries, please contact the responsible organization directly. Please do not send your applications to RJO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.
