Applications are now open for the Waterfront Alliance Climate Resilience Fellowship 2027, a 16-week professional development programme designed for young adults in New York City who want to explore careers connected to climate resilience, environmental justice, sustainable waterfronts, planning, design and sustainability.

The programme will run from January through April 2027 and combines climate-resilience education with professional development, career exploration, community engagement and practical exposure to the growing green and blue economy.

Participants will take part in a hybrid programme delivered through a combination of virtual and in-person activities, generally scheduled on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. The final in-person location has not yet been confirmed.

A particularly distinctive component of the Fellowship is preparation for the WEDG Associate Credential, based on the Waterfront Edge Design Guidelines. Participants will receive WEDG-related training and support designed to help them understand principles for creating more resilient, accessible and ecologically responsible waterfronts.

According to the programme announcement, participants who successfully complete specified Fellowship requirements can also receive a $700 honorarium. The opportunity additionally includes transit support, with transit cards provided to participants.

The Fellowship is aimed at New York City young adults ages 17–24. Applicants do not need to have already decided on a specific career pathway. The programme explicitly welcomes young people who may be in college, considering a skilled trade, exploring environmental careers or still deciding what they want to do next.

Application deadline: October 31, 2026.

Programme period: January–April 2027.

About the Waterfront Alliance Climate Resilience Fellowship

The Climate Resilience Fellowship is hosted by Waterfront Alliance, an organization focused on creating more accessible, resilient and equitable waterfronts.

The programme is designed around a growing reality: climate adaptation is creating new career pathways that extend far beyond traditional environmental science.

Communities facing sea-level rise, flooding, extreme weather and changing coastal conditions need professionals working across areas such as:

• Climate resilience
• Urban planning
• Engineering
• Community engagement
• Environmental justice
• Landscape and waterfront design
• Green infrastructure
• Public policy
• Sustainability
• Coastal adaptation
• Construction and skilled trades
• Environmental education

The Fellowship introduces young people to this broader field while helping them understand where their own interests and skills might fit.

This makes the programme suitable not only for participants who already see themselves as future environmental professionals, but also for young people interested in art, technology, science, design, community work or public service who want to understand how those interests can connect to climate resilience.

A 16-Week Climate Careers Programme

The Fellowship runs for approximately 16 weeks from:

January 2027 through April 2027.

Participants will generally meet on:

Tuesday and Thursday evenings.

This schedule is intended to make the programme more accessible to young people who may be studying, working or managing other responsibilities during the day.

The Fellowship is delivered in a:

Hybrid format

with a combination of:

• Virtual sessions
• In-person activities

The exact in-person location is still listed as TBD.

Applicants should therefore be prepared to participate both online and at designated in-person locations once those arrangements are announced.

What Will Participants Learn?

The programme combines climate education with practical career exploration.

Participants will receive exposure to subjects including:

• Coastal climate resilience
• Green and blue career pathways
• Accessible waterfront design
• Green infrastructure
• Environmental justice
• Sustainable design
• Community resilience

These areas are increasingly important for cities such as New York, where waterfront neighborhoods face climate-related risks including flooding, sea-level rise and extreme weather.

Coastal Climate Resilience Education

Coastal resilience examines how communities, infrastructure and ecosystems can prepare for and adapt to climate-related hazards.

Participants may develop a clearer understanding of issues such as:

• Coastal flooding
• Sea-level rise
• Storm impacts
• Waterfront infrastructure
• Community preparedness
• Climate adaptation
• Resilient design

The goal is not merely to understand the environmental problem, but also to introduce participants to the people and professions working on solutions.

Green and Blue Career Pathways

A major component of the programme is career exploration.

The Fellowship introduces participants to green and blue careers.

Green careers broadly relate to sustainability, environmental protection, clean infrastructure and climate action.

Blue careers are often associated with coastal environments, waterfronts, marine systems and water-related infrastructure.

Potential career areas may include:

• Climate adaptation
• Environmental planning
• Sustainability
• Landscape architecture
• Civil engineering
• Environmental engineering
• Coastal planning
• Waterfront management
• Community development
• Environmental education
• Green infrastructure
• Public-sector climate programmes
• Construction and resilience-related trades

The programme does not state that participants must choose one particular profession. Instead, it is structured to help young people explore different possibilities.

Environmental Justice and Community Resilience

The Fellowship also places climate resilience within a broader social context.

Environmental hazards do not affect every community equally.

Lower-income neighborhoods and historically marginalized communities can experience disproportionate exposure to:

• Flood risk
• Pollution
• Aging infrastructure
• Heat
• Limited green space
• Climate-related displacement pressures

For that reason, environmental justice is closely connected with climate resilience.

The programme emphasizes that climate-related careers are not only about protecting ecosystems. They are also about helping create:

• Safer communities
• More equitable infrastructure
• More accessible waterfronts
• Stronger neighborhoods
• More inclusive planning processes

Learn About Accessible Waterfront Design

Accessibility is another important element of the programme.

Waterfront spaces should ideally be usable by a broad range of people, including communities with different physical, social and economic needs.

Participants may therefore learn how waterfront planning can consider:

• Public access
• Disability inclusion
• Community needs
• Safety
• Ecological protection
• Resilience
• Long-term sustainability

This connects directly with the Fellowship’s WEDG training component.

What Is WEDG?

One of the most important professional-development features of the Fellowship is exposure to the Waterfront Edge Design Guidelines, commonly known as WEDG.

WEDG is a framework used to encourage better waterfront design through principles related to:

• Resilience
• Ecology
• Access
• Community benefit
• Responsible design

The Fellowship includes preparation toward becoming a:

WEDG Associate

Participants will receive training related to the WEDG framework and preparation for the credential.

This provides young participants with an opportunity to gain familiarity with a professional framework used in waterfront planning and resilience work.

WEDG Associate Credential

The application announcement states that participants will have the opportunity to earn their:

WEDG Associate Credential

as part of the programme.

The promotional information also indicates that training and examination preparation are included.

For young people entering climate or planning fields, a professional credential can help demonstrate that they have gained knowledge beyond general classroom study.

It may be relevant to future pathways in:

• Sustainability
• Planning
• Waterfront development
• Climate resilience
• Landscape design
• Architecture
• Infrastructure
• Environmental careers

Hands-On Field Experiences

The programme is not designed solely around virtual classroom instruction.

Participants will also gain practical exposure through activities such as:

• Site visits
• Community projects
• Field experiences
• Workshops

These experiences can help participants see how climate-resilience concepts are applied in actual communities and waterfront environments.

Rather than studying resilience only as an abstract concept, Fellows may have opportunities to observe the relationship between:

• Infrastructure
• Community needs
• Waterfront design
• Environmental systems
• Climate risks

Community Engagement Opportunities

Community engagement is another stated component of the Fellowship.

Climate resilience projects can affect neighborhoods directly, which means effective adaptation often requires meaningful participation from residents and local stakeholders.

Participants may therefore gain exposure to how professionals engage with communities when considering:

• Local priorities
• Climate risks
• Infrastructure
• Public spaces
• Waterfront access
• Environmental justice

This experience can be particularly useful for participants interested in careers involving public policy, community organizing, planning or nonprofit work.

Professional Development and Career Exploration

The Fellowship also includes professional-development support intended to help participants move toward future education, internships, apprenticeships or employment.

The programme may help participants understand:

• What climate-related careers exist
• What qualifications different careers require
• Which pathways involve university education
• Which pathways may involve apprenticeships or trades
• How environmental careers intersect with technology, planning and community work

This makes the programme particularly useful for young people who know they care about environmental or community issues but have not yet identified a specific professional direction.

Connections to Internships, Apprenticeships and Jobs

The programme announcement also highlights career connections.

Participants may gain exposure to pathways leading toward:

• Internships
• Apprenticeships
• Entry-level jobs
• Further education
• Professional training

The Fellowship should not be interpreted as a guarantee that every participant will receive employment or an internship.

Rather, it offers career exploration, professional connections and exposure that may help participants better navigate future opportunities.

Mentorship and Professional Connections

Participants will also be introduced to professionals and career pathways within climate-resilience-related fields.

Professional networking can be particularly valuable for young people who may not already have family or community connections within environmental professions.

Through programme activities, Fellows may gain opportunities to:

• Meet climate professionals
• Learn about different career trajectories
• Ask questions about education and training pathways
• Understand workplace expectations
• Expand their professional networks

$700 Honorarium

Participants who complete the specified Fellowship requirements can receive a:

$700 honorarium.

The source does not describe the $700 as an automatic payment simply for being admitted to the programme.

The application information states:

“Participants who complete specific fellowship requirements also receive a $700 honorarium.”

The promotional announcement further connects the payment with successful completion of the WEDG Associate Exam.

Applicants should therefore understand that the payment is conditional upon completion requirements, rather than a guaranteed upfront stipend.

Transit Cards Are Provided

Another practical benefit is transportation support.

The application form states that:

Transit cards are provided.

This can help reduce transportation costs associated with attending the programme’s in-person activities.

The precise value or number of transit cards is not specified in the information provided.

Who Is the Fellowship Designed For?

The programme is aimed at:

New York City young adults ages 17–24.

It is designed for participants at different educational and professional stages.

You might be:

• A high school graduate
• A college student
• Considering college
• Considering a trade
• Exploring an apprenticeship
• Unsure of your next career step
• Interested in climate or sustainability
• Looking for your first professional experience

The programme explicitly emphasizes that applicants do not need to have their entire career path figured out before applying.

Do You Need Previous Climate Experience?

The source does not state that applicants need previous professional experience in climate resilience or sustainability.

The programme is structured as an exploratory and developmental opportunity.

This makes it particularly suitable for young adults who are interested in environmental careers but are still building their knowledge and experience.

There is also no requirement stated for applicants to hold a university degree.

Who Might Be a Strong Fit?

A strong candidate may be interested in one or more areas such as:

• Climate change
• Environmental justice
• Sustainability
• Urban planning
• Design
• Architecture
• Environmental science
• Community organizing
• Engineering
• Green infrastructure
• Public space
• Waterfronts
• Coastal resilience
• Skilled trades

However, these are areas of interest rather than formal academic requirements.

You Do Not Have to Be a Scientist

The Fellowship explicitly presents climate resilience as a field that can involve many different interests.

The programme notes that whether participants are interested in:

• Science
• Art
• Technology
• Helping people

there may be a place for them within sustainability and resilience careers.

This multidisciplinary approach reflects the reality that climate resilience requires professionals from many backgrounds.

Programme Schedule

Applicants should be prepared for the following schedule:

Programme period: January–April 2027

Meeting days: Tuesday and Thursday evenings

Format: Hybrid

Online component: Virtual sessions

In-person component: Location to be confirmed

Because participation takes place over several months, applicants should make sure they can commit consistently before accepting a place.

How to Apply

Applications are submitted through the Waterfront Alliance Climate Resilience Fellowship application form.

Applicants should access the form and complete all required sections.

APPLY HERE

Applicants should carefully review the form before submission to make sure all requested information has been provided.

Application Deadline

Applications must be submitted by:

October 31, 2026.

The supplied application information does not state a specific closing time or time zone.

For that reason, applicants are encouraged to submit well before the final day.

Key Information at a Glance

Programme: Waterfront Alliance Climate Resilience Fellowship

Programme year: Winter/Spring 2027

Host organization: Waterfront Alliance

Target group: NYC young adults ages 17–24

Duration: Approximately 16 weeks

Programme dates: January–April 2027

Schedule: Tuesday and Thursday evenings

Format: Hybrid

In-person location: To be determined

Focus areas: Climate resilience, environmental justice, waterfront design, sustainability, planning and green infrastructure

Professional credential: WEDG Associate training and credential pathway

Honorarium: $700 for participants who successfully complete specified programme requirements

Transportation: Transit cards provided

Experience level: Previous climate-sector professional experience is not stated as required

Application deadline: October 31, 2026

APPLY HERE

Why This Fellowship Matters

Climate resilience is becoming an increasingly important part of how cities plan for the future.

New York City faces significant challenges associated with:

• Coastal flooding
• Extreme weather
• Sea-level rise
• Infrastructure resilience
• Environmental inequality

Meeting these challenges will require a new generation of professionals who understand not only environmental science, but also design, planning, infrastructure, community engagement and justice.

For young adults trying to enter this field, however, it can be difficult to know where to begin.

The Waterfront Alliance Climate Resilience Fellowship helps address this challenge by providing a structured introduction to the sector alongside practical experiences, mentorship, professional connections and WEDG training.

The Fellowship may be especially valuable for young people who have an interest in climate issues but do not yet know which academic or career pathway best suits them.

Learn More HERE

Conclusion

The Waterfront Alliance Climate Resilience Fellowship 2027 offers New York City young adults ages 17–24 an accessible pathway into the expanding fields of climate resilience, sustainability, environmental justice and waterfront planning.

Running from January through April 2027, the 16-week programme combines hybrid learning with workshops, field experiences, community engagement, professional development and exploration of green and blue career pathways.

Participants will also work toward the WEDG Associate Credential, giving them exposure to professional principles for resilient, accessible and sustainable waterfront development.

The programme is particularly attractive because applicants do not need to have already chosen a specific environmental career. Whether someone is studying in college, considering a trade or simply exploring their next step, the Fellowship is designed to introduce them to career possibilities and provide practical experience.

Participants who successfully complete specified programme requirements can receive a $700 honorarium, and transit cards will also be provided to support participation.

For young New Yorkers interested in building careers that help communities respond to climate change while creating safer, stronger and more equitable environments, this programme provides a valuable entry point.

Applications close on October 31, 2026.

To discover more global fellowship opportunities, CLICK HERE.