What my placement module taught me about climate finance and my future career

A work placement at Climate Policy Initiative gave BSc Economics student Riya first-hand experience of professional life and a practical understanding of how climate change is being tackled.

Studying BSc Economics gave me an insight into a range of global issues, particularly climate change. The placement module, however, offered a practical perspective, allowing me to understand how climate change is being addressed. In particular, it enabled me to focus on key aspects of climate finance, such as identifying who provides climate funding and how it is allocated.

How my Placement Module worked

In Semester 2, I had the opportunity to undertake a placement at the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) as one of my modules, which gave me first-hand experience of a professional working environment and helped me to develop new skills.

It gave me insight into professional research and how policy decisions are made.

The placement took place one day a week for eight weeks, and I worked on Fridays. It was a hybrid placement, with some weeks spent in the office and others working from home. I balanced this with my university studies by completing most of my university work by Thursday and leaving lighter tasks for the weekend. This routine helped me stay organised and maintain focus on both academic and placement responsibilities. 

I was pleased with the opportunity because it gave me insight into professional research and how policy decisions are made. Working in the office provided me with the opportunity to network with a wide range of colleagues at CPI and learn from their experiences. 

I had the opportunity to contribute towards an important report

During my placement, I contributed to CPI’s climate finance report, the Global Landscape of Climate Finance (GLCF), by researching climate finance data for 2025. This task was done after CPI received feedback from report users, including policymakers, that previous editions of the report contained outdated data. This limited their ability to make informed decisions on climate finance.

The support and guidance from the CPI Research Team reassured me and helped to build my confidence throughout the task.

As this was the first time such a task had been undertaken, I initially felt nervous about finding suitable data sources for the climate finance estimates. However, the support and guidance from the CPI Research Team reassured me and helped to build my confidence throughout the task. Through this task, I strengthened my research and problem-solving skills by identifying the most effective ways to locate the data CPI required.

As I had identified many data sources, I critically analysed the sources and selected the most relevant ones for CPI’s final estimations. I then presented my findings to the Research Team, justifying my selections based on the quality and reliability of each source. Although presenting in a professional environment was initially daunting, the preparation I had done beforehand supported me in delivering my presentation confidently. This experience enhanced my presentation and communication skills when presenting the research findings.

Reflections from the placement experience

This placement allowed me to make a small but meaningful contribution to a global issue by supporting work that helps policymakers make more informed decisions on climate finance. It also showed me that while progress is being made in this field, much more still needs to be done. I feel particularly privileged that some of the data I gathered will feature at major global events such as London Climate Action Week and COP.

This placement allowed me to make a small but meaningful contribution to a global issue by supporting work that helps policymakers make more informed decisions on climate finance.

The placement helped me to develop a range of transferable skills that will benefit me in any future career. It highlighted the importance of asking questions to deepen my understanding of CPI’s work and to seek advice from the team on my career development. I was surprised by how welcoming and supportive the team at CPI were. Their support made me feel comfortable in a professional environment and encouraged me to ask questions and engage more confidently with the work. 

The experience encouraged me to reflect on the tasks I enjoyed and would like to pursue in the future, as well as the challenges I overcame. For example, I enjoyed analysing climate finance data, despite the challenges involved in sourcing reliable information.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my placement experience and am grateful to the CPI team for providing me with this opportunity. I would encourage anyone to take on new career opportunities as they are invaluable for personal growth and career development!