BY JOHN AUGÉ
John Augé is a second year Master's of International Relations candidate at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). He graduated from North Central College in International Business and Finance. His research and work revolves around sustainable development, climate justice, and intangible cultural heritage in the Pacific.
Perspectives: Where did you intern this summer?
JA: This summer, I interned for the Tuvalu Climate Action Network (TuCAN), an NGO fighting climate change based in Funafuti, Tuvalu. The NGO is a sub-branch of the Climate Action Network, a global network of over 1,900 civil society organizations fighting the world’s most pressing issue: climate change. Given my focus area of development, climate, and sustainability in the Pacific, TuCAN was a great match.
Tuvalu, the least visited and fourth smallest country in the world in terms of area, is the most vulnerable to climate change. The highest point in the country above sea level is 4.6 meters or about 15 feet and is predicted by experts to be the first country to be fully submerged due to rising sea levels. TuCAN’s work is diverse as it empowers the local community by implementing various sustainable projects and hosting educational workshops in the country.
Perspectives: How did you find this internship, and what was the hiring process?
JA: There are many organizations in the Pacific region, but not many have established internship programs, especially the NGOs in the smaller countries. For about two months, I searched online, reading through websites and government reports, in order to find emails to contact. After compiling an extensive list, I sent over 140 cold emails to professionals, IGOs, and NGOs in the region, inquiring about potential opportunities. I received about an 18.5% response rate, with one response being from Tuvalu’s Minister of Finance. He then connected me with Tuvalu’s Director of Climate Change who introduced me to the Executive Director of TuCAN. After meeting with TuCAN, the Executive Director and I communicated what we were each looking for from an internship. It ended up being a perfect match and I was offered a position.
Perspectives: What were your primary responsibilities? Please describe the projects you worked on.
JA: Throughout my internship, I had many wide-ranging responsibilities. I engaged in high-level meetings with national and international government officials and representatives from organizations such as the United Nations and Asian Development Bank and composed grant proposals for various community projects, including a youth empowerment conference and a community garden. I also developed detailed outlines for workshops focusing on climate migration, climate justice, and deep sea mining.
Furthermore, I participated in a week-long workshop geared towards Tuvalu’s Third National Communication for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and was interviewed about my perspective on climate change on Tuvalu national TV and radio. Lastly, I attended the Kato Pacific Community Climate Fund Conference in Kioa, Fiji, a follow-up from last year’s Kioa Climate Emergency Declaration, where we worked to present a funding mechanism, Kato, for projects in grassroots communities in the region.
Perspectives: Was there previous coursework or work experience that you found especially useful during the internship or the application process?
JA: In Professor Justin Frosini’s Constitutional Development course, I examined Tuvalu’s constitutional crisis that took place in 2012-2013. To understand what allowed the crisis to happen, I analyzed the country’s constitution. This led me to understand more than just election laws but also gave me insight into the Tuvalu way of life. Having this background knowledge led to an easier transition when I moved there.
I previously worked for the E4Impact Foundation, an NGO based in Nairobi, Kenya. Through my work there, I gained an understanding of how an NGO operates, which was valuable when preparing to start with TuCAN.
Perspectives: What were some of your key takeaways from this internship for your academic and professional interests?
JA: The first takeaway I had was that global action to mitigate and adapt to climate change needs to be taken now. International treaties such as the Paris Agreement have been signed but further steps need to be taken. One can read about the effects of climate change in the Pacific, but to be on the ground and see them firsthand is life-changing. The traditional Tuvalu lifestyle has been greatly impacted due to climate change. The frequency of extreme weather events has increased, and unhealthy, processed foods continue to be imported, all while the sea level continues rising.
Secondly, after experiencing the amazing culture Tuvalu has to offer, such as the language and its traditional music and dance, I now have a better idea of the topic of my Ph.D. dissertation, when the opportunity arises. The loss of intangible cultural heritage is one of the most significant effects of climate change and the scholarship on it must be addressed further.