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Climate Change Policy Analysts

SOC 19-2041.01Job Zone 5 · Extensive Preparationv.26.05

Context coveredThis framework covers climate change policy analysis practice from entry-level research support through executive leadership across government, regulatory, consulting, and nonprofit environments requiring advanced graduate-level expertise.

Sources:O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.SkillsCrosswalkSkillsCrosswalk — O*NET enrichment + adjacency index. Opens in new tab.
Emerging
Entry / Apprentice
  1. Climate-related research studies — gather and organize from government agencies, research laboratories, and academic repositories under senior analyst supervision.
  2. Existing policies and legislation — review and annotate to identify potential environmental impacts using structured checklists provided by the team.
  3. Analytical support materials — compile data summaries and literature inventories to assist in drafting policy briefs on renewable energy and energy efficiency.
  4. Climate science findings — read and summarize peer-reviewed and government reports to support senior analysts in stakeholder briefings.
  5. Spreadsheet and office suite software — apply to organize climate datasets and format preliminary analytical outputs for team review.
  6. Policy brief drafts — contribute discrete sections under direct guidance, following established organizational style and citation standards.
  7. Geographic information system tools — operate under supervision to produce basic spatial visualizations of climate impact data for internal use.
  8. Legislative and regulatory databases — search using information retrieval software to locate relevant statutes, rules, and precedents for policy review tasks.
  9. Public meeting materials — prepare presentation slides and background documents under direction to support senior staff at governmental forums.
  10. Active listening and note-taking — apply during interagency meetings and technical briefings to capture key points for subsequent team synthesis.
Developing
Mid-level / Established
  1. Policy briefs on climate change and energy efficiency — draft and revise with reduced oversight, integrating multiple research sources into coherent analytical narratives.
  2. Climate-related research findings — analyze and distill into accessible summaries tailored for legislative staff, regulatory agencies, or environmental advocacy groups.
  3. Existing environmental policies — evaluate systematically to identify gaps, conflicts, and unintended consequences using established analytical frameworks.
  4. Proposed policy modifications on fuel use and transportation — develop initial recommendations grounded in current climate science and regulatory precedent.
  5. Analytical or scientific software — utilize to conduct quantitative analyses of emissions scenarios and model policy intervention outcomes.
  6. Written memoranda, study reports, and testimonies — produce for government or environmental organizations, adhering to agency standards and statutory requirements.
  7. Climate data visualizations and geographic information system outputs — interpret and incorporate into reports to communicate spatial risk patterns to mixed audiences.
  8. Stakeholder presentations — deliver at public interest and governmental meetings, responding competently to technical and policy questions from diverse audiences.
  9. Time management and project prioritization — apply across concurrent research and policy assignments within a regulatory or consulting environment.
  10. Interagency working groups — coordinate participation and follow-up actions, ensuring alignment between analytical outputs and broader policy timelines.
Proficient
Senior / Expert IC
  1. Complex legislative recommendations on climate change and environmental management — formulate autonomously, drawing on comprehensive knowledge of policy principles, regulatory programs, and scientific evidence.
  2. Multi-source climate research portfolios — synthesize across government, academic, and NGO literature to produce authoritative briefings for senior legislators and regulatory decision-makers.
  3. Policy proposals addressing traditional and alternative fuels, transportation, and land use — design and defend across the full range of climate mitigation and adaptation contexts.
  4. Testimonies and formal written materials — author independently for legislative committees, regulatory proceedings, and international forums with high analytical rigor and persuasive clarity.
  5. Non-routine environmental impact assessments — conduct when existing policy frameworks are insufficient, applying inductive and deductive reasoning to novel regulatory challenges.
  6. Object-oriented and development environment software — leverage to build or adapt custom analytical tools supporting climate scenario modeling and policy sensitivity analysis.
  7. Stakeholder communication strategies — craft and execute across politically and technically diverse audiences, adapting framing and evidence presentation to maximize policy influence.
  8. Systems analysis of climate-related regulatory frameworks — perform to trace second-order consequences of proposed legislation across economic, ecological, and social systems.
  9. Cross-disciplinary research teams — guide on methodological rigor, ensuring that scientific findings are accurately translated into legally and politically actionable policy language.
  10. Emerging climate science and international agreements — monitor continuously and incorporate into updated policy positions before legislative or regulatory windows close.
Advanced
Lead / Principal / Executive
  1. Organizational climate policy strategy — set direction across programmatic, legislative, and research functions, aligning institutional priorities with evolving international climate frameworks.
  2. High-stakes legislative and regulatory advocacy — lead at the senior governmental or executive level, representing organizational positions before Congress, federal agencies, or international bodies.
  3. Policy innovation agenda — establish by identifying systemic gaps in existing climate governance and commissioning original research programs to address them at national or global scale.
  4. Junior and mid-level analysts — mentor and develop through structured coaching, peer review processes, and stretch assignments that build autonomous policy competence.
  5. Interorganizational coalitions and partnerships — architect among government agencies, research institutions, industry groups, and civil society to advance coordinated climate policy outcomes.
  6. Resource allocation and portfolio management — oversee for a division or center, directing analytical capacity toward highest-impact legislative and regulatory opportunities.
  7. Institutional knowledge systems — design and govern, ensuring that climate research assets, policy precedents, and stakeholder intelligence are accessible and current across the organization.
  8. Complex cross-jurisdictional policy challenges — resolve by synthesizing legal, scientific, economic, and political dimensions into integrated recommendations that navigate competing interests.
  9. Public and expert discourse on climate policy — shape through thought leadership including testimony, publications, keynote presentations, and media engagement at national and international levels.
  10. Organizational performance and policy impact — evaluate using systems-level metrics, adapting strategic direction in response to legislative outcomes, scientific developments, and stakeholder dynamics.

AI-at-Work Competency Framework

Sources:Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab.Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab.WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab.
Subscriber feature

Authoritative source data identified for 998 occupations

How a worker at each mastery level uses, directs, and evaluates AI tools in this occupation. Each statement cites its evidence inline; click a citation chip to verify the source.

Emerging
  1. AI-assisted literature scanning — uses LLM tools to surface relevant climate research abstracts and policy documents, then reads each source manually to verify relevance before incorporating into briefs Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab. WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab..
  2. Basic prompt drafting — submits straightforward summarization requests to an AI assistant for dense scientific reports, reviewing and correcting the output against the original text before passing it to senior analysts Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab..
Developing
  1. Policy brief drafting support — delegates first-draft structuring of policy memos and legislative summaries to an AI tool using well-defined prompts, then rewrites for accuracy, political context, and stakeholder audience Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab. Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab..
  2. Climate data synthesis — directs an AI assistant to distill large bodies of peer-reviewed findings into thematic clusters, personally validating each cluster against source materials before presenting to regulatory stakeholders WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab..
  3. Comparative policy analysis — tasks an AI tool with mapping analogous climate policies across jurisdictions, then critically evaluates the output for omissions and contextual mismatches Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab..
Proficient
  1. High-volume research compression — leverages AI tools to compress large volumes of climate science literature into structured evidence matrices, reclaiming substantial analyst time for critical synthesis and recommendation-writing Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab..
  2. Legislative recommendation scaffolding — uses AI-generated scenario outlines as raw material for crafting legislative proposals on fuel standards and energy efficiency, retaining sole authorship of normative and political judgments Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab. WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab..
  3. Stakeholder communication drafting — orchestrates AI-assisted drafting of testimonies and stakeholder memoranda, applying expert editing to align outputs with regulatory tone, legal precision, and agency-specific framing Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab..
  4. Cross-domain evidence integration — directs AI tools to cross-reference climate modeling outputs with economic and transportation data, then personally assembles the integrated narrative for policy briefs WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab..
Advanced
  1. End-to-end policy workflow orchestration — designs multi-step AI-assisted pipelines covering literature ingestion, evidence synthesis, draft policy language, and impact summaries, while retaining critical oversight at each decision gate Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab. Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab..
  2. AI output quality governance — establishes team-level standards for validating AI-generated climate analysis, including source-tracing protocols and bias checks, ensuring outputs meet the evidentiary bar required for legislative testimony Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab. WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab..
  3. Strategic AI delegation calibration — continuously re-evaluates which analytical sub-tasks are delegated to AI versus handled by human experts, using empirical feedback on output quality to refine the human–AI division of labor in the policy analysis cycle Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab. Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab..
Evidence pack
AEI usage
Task observations: 72
Augment share: 7.2%
Time saved: 72.6%
AI autonomy: 3.29
SAFI positioning
Top skill: Reading Comprehension
Score: 45.5 / 100
Quadrant: Q2_ai_augmented
precision: exact
WEF cluster
Data Science and Analysis
data_science_and_analysis
Sources:Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab.WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab.Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab.

Pathsmith Durable Skills Framework

Sources:Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Subscriber feature

Ten durable-skill domains mapped to four proficiency/role levels for each occupation. Each statement is aligned to the Pathsmith taxonomy, derived from trusted grounding data and mapped to occupation-specific O*NET tasks and skills.

1Communication12 statements
Emerging
  1. Policy brief drafting — summarizes climate research findings into structured written summaries for supervisor review using standard government memorandum formats Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Stakeholder listening — records and paraphrases technical testimony from scientists and agency representatives during policy review sessions to confirm accurate understanding Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Public meeting participation — delivers prepared remarks on a single climate issue at public forums using agency-approved talking points O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Developing
  1. Legislative communication — translates complex climate modeling data into accessible language for non-technical legislative staff in written briefs and one-page summaries Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Cross-agency correspondence — drafts memoranda and policy comments to regulatory agencies on proposed rules affecting greenhouse gas emissions with minimal revision required O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Oral testimony preparation — constructs and delivers structured verbal presentations on energy efficiency or renewable fuel policy to small government working groups Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Applying
  1. Policy brief authorship — produces comprehensive, independently written briefs synthesizing climate research, legal precedent, and stakeholder input for legislators and regulatory bodies Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Multi-audience communication — adapts technical climate science findings into tailored written and oral formats for audiences ranging from scientific peers to elected officials and community groups Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Legislative recommendation articulation — presents fully reasoned climate policy recommendations with supporting evidence in formal testimony before regulatory agencies or legislative committees O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Exceeding
  1. Strategic narrative framing — shapes the overarching communication strategy for a climate policy initiative, ensuring consistent and compelling messaging across all written, oral, and public engagement channels Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Expert public discourse — leads high-stakes public and governmental forums on contested climate legislation, managing Q&A and reframing technical disagreements for diverse stakeholders Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Mentored communication development — coaches junior analysts in translating scientific uncertainty into actionable policy language, modeling precision and clarity across all deliverable types Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
2Leadership9 statements
Emerging
  1. Task ownership — takes independent responsibility for a defined section of a climate policy research assignment, delivering on schedule without requiring supervisory follow-up Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Team contribution — volunteers to coordinate literature review assignments within a small policy team examining proposed emissions regulations Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Developing
  1. Project initiative — identifies gaps in existing climate policy analysis and proposes a structured research agenda to address them without being directed by supervisors Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Stakeholder coordination — organizes working group meetings with government agency contacts and environmental organizations to advance a shared policy development timeline Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Applying
  1. Policy project leadership — leads a multi-stakeholder research effort to develop legislative recommendations on transportation fuel standards, managing timelines, deliverables, and inter-agency relationships Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Analytical team direction — assigns research tasks, reviews outputs, and provides substantive feedback to a team of analysts producing a major climate change impact report Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Exceeding
  1. Program-level stewardship — takes executive responsibility for an agency's climate policy research portfolio, setting strategic priorities and accountable for the quality and timeliness of all policy outputs Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Field leadership — represents the organization in interagency climate task forces and national policy coalitions, influencing the direction of legislative proposals at a systemic level Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Analyst development — mentors early-career climate policy professionals by modeling evidence-based decision-making, professional accountability, and ethical policy advocacy Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
3Metacognition8 statements
Emerging
  1. Learning gap identification — recognizes and articulates personal knowledge limitations in specific climate science subfields such as carbon accounting or climate modeling when beginning new assignments Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Feedback integration — reflects on supervisor comments on policy drafts and adjusts research approach or writing structure before submitting revised materials Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Developing
  1. Research strategy monitoring — pauses mid-project to evaluate whether the chosen analytical framework for a climate impact assessment is producing actionable policy insights or requires recalibration Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Knowledge acquisition planning — self-directs supplemental learning in emerging areas such as climate finance mechanisms or international treaty structures to fill identified competency gaps Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Applying
  1. Analytical self-evaluation — systematically reviews completed policy briefs against initial research objectives to assess logical coherence, evidentiary sufficiency, and policy relevance before submission Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Cognitive bias monitoring — identifies and corrects for confirmation bias in literature reviews by deliberately seeking out peer-reviewed studies that contradict preliminary policy conclusions Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Exceeding
  1. Meta-analytical leadership — models and teaches structured self-evaluation practices to policy teams, embedding reflective review checkpoints into the standard policy development workflow Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Strategic learning architecture — designs personal and team-level professional development plans aligned with emerging climate science, regulatory shifts, and geopolitical developments affecting policy relevance Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
4Critical Thinking8 statements
Emerging
  1. Evidence sorting — identifies peer-reviewed climate studies versus grey literature when assembling research for a policy brief, distinguishing primary evidence from advocacy documents Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Policy assumption surfacing — lists underlying assumptions in a proposed emissions regulation when asked to conduct initial review as part of a supervised analysis task Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Developing
  1. Multi-source synthesis — compares and reconciles conflicting findings from government agency reports, academic research, and industry data when assessing the feasibility of a proposed renewable energy policy Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Legislative impact evaluation — evaluates second-order consequences of proposed climate legislation on energy markets, employment, and environmental justice populations using structured analytical frameworks Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Applying
  1. Systems-level policy analysis — evaluates the interdependencies among transportation, energy, and land-use policies to identify systemic leverage points for emissions reduction Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Evidence quality adjudication — independently assesses the methodological rigor of climate studies cited in legislative proposals and flags evidentiary weaknesses in formal policy review documents Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Exceeding
  1. Analytical framework innovation — develops novel evaluation frameworks for assessing climate policy trade-offs under deep uncertainty, drawing on decision theory, climate science, and legal precedent Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Institutional reasoning review — conducts critical review of agency-wide analytical methodologies, identifying systemic blind spots and recommending structural improvements to policy assessment processes Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
5Collaboration8 statements
Emerging
  1. Interdisciplinary team participation — contributes assigned research tasks to a cross-functional policy team including economists, legal analysts, and environmental scientists without creating workflow delays Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Feedback receptivity — accepts and incorporates substantive input from colleagues during collaborative review of a climate impact memorandum without defensiveness Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Developing
  1. Cross-agency collaboration — coordinates with counterparts at EPA, DOE, or state environmental agencies to align policy positions and share data during joint climate initiative development Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Perspective integration — actively solicits and incorporates viewpoints from stakeholders with opposing interests, such as industry groups and environmental advocates, to produce balanced policy analysis Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Applying
  1. Multi-stakeholder project management — facilitates collaborative policy development processes involving government agencies, NGOs, and academic researchers, managing competing priorities and group dynamics to reach actionable outputs Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Conflict navigation — mediates substantive disagreements among team members on competing policy interpretations, guiding the group to evidence-based consensus without sacrificing analytical rigor Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Exceeding
  1. Coalition building — establishes and sustains cross-sector collaborative networks among legislators, scientists, industry stakeholders, and community organizations to advance comprehensive climate policy reform Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Collaborative culture leadership — designs and institutionalizes inclusive team practices for policy development that systematically integrate diverse technical and community expertise into final policy recommendations Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
6Character8 statements
Emerging
  1. Source transparency — accurately cites all data sources and research references in policy documents, distinguishing between established findings and emerging or contested science Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Confidentiality adherence — handles pre-decisional policy documents and embargoed research findings with appropriate discretion in accordance with agency protocols Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Developing
  1. Intellectual honesty — acknowledges evidentiary limitations and scientific uncertainty in policy briefs rather than overstating the strength of findings to support a preferred policy outcome Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Conflict of interest navigation — identifies and discloses potential conflicts of interest when assigned to policy areas involving organizations with which personal or professional relationships exist Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Applying
  1. Policy ethics stewardship — consistently produces analysis that fairly represents all relevant evidence, even when findings challenge the preferred positions of sponsoring agencies or political stakeholders Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Professional accountability — takes direct responsibility for errors in published policy analysis, initiates correction procedures, and communicates corrections transparently to affected stakeholders Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Exceeding
  1. Institutional integrity modeling — establishes and champions standards for ethical policy analysis across the organization, creating formal review processes that protect against political pressure on analytical conclusions Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Public trust guardianship — advocates for evidence-based policymaking in public forums and legislative settings even when politically inconvenient, maintaining credibility with scientific and governmental communities Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
7Creativity8 statements
Emerging
  1. Alternative framing — generates multiple interpretive framings of a climate data set when preparing background research, offering the policy team more than one analytical entry point Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Policy analogy application — draws on successful climate policies from other jurisdictions or sectors to suggest novel approaches during early-stage brainstorming for a domestic regulatory challenge Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Developing
  1. Innovative policy design — proposes unconventional regulatory mechanisms, such as hybrid carbon pricing with technology mandates, when standard policy options are demonstrably insufficient to meet emission reduction targets Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Cross-domain synthesis — imports analytical models from adjacent fields such as public health, urban planning, or behavioral economics to enrich climate policy impact assessments Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Applying
  1. Novel solution architecture — designs original policy frameworks that address climate adaptation and mitigation simultaneously, integrating legal, economic, and scientific considerations into a coherent legislative proposal Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Experimental evidence generation — proposes and designs pilot policy evaluation studies to generate original empirical evidence where existing research is insufficient to inform legislative recommendations Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Exceeding
  1. Policy innovation leadership — leads the development of groundbreaking climate policy instruments that become adopted as models by other agencies or jurisdictions Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Creative institution building — redesigns organizational processes for policy analysis to embed systematic creative problem-solving, moving teams beyond conventional regulatory frameworks toward transformative climate solutions Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
8Growth Mindset8 statements
Emerging
  1. Scientific learning engagement — independently reads emerging climate science literature outside formal work assignments to expand technical grounding for future policy analysis Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Constructive feedback acceptance — treats supervisor redlines on a legislative brief as learning data rather than criticism, documenting recurring feedback patterns for deliberate improvement Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Developing
  1. Skill stretch pursuit — volunteers for policy assignments in unfamiliar climate subdomains, such as blue carbon or climate litigation, to intentionally develop new areas of expertise Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Setback reframing — when a legislative recommendation is rejected, conducts a structured debrief to extract lessons about stakeholder dynamics or evidentiary standards for the next proposal cycle Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Applying
  1. Iterative professional development — maintains an active self-directed learning plan tied to evolving climate science, international agreements, and domestic regulatory developments, updating it after each major project cycle Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Failure-to-learning conversion — documents and shares lessons from policy initiatives that did not achieve intended outcomes, contributing institutional knowledge that prevents recurrence of analytical or strategic errors Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Exceeding
  1. Learning culture cultivation — models continuous professional development for policy teams by openly discussing personal knowledge gaps, sharing new research, and creating structured learning opportunities within the organization Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Adaptive expertise demonstration — integrates newly emerging climate science, such as tipping point research or loss-and-damage frameworks, into active policy work within weeks of publication, demonstrating rapid knowledge integration Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
9Mindfulness8 statements
Emerging
  1. Attentional focus management — maintains sustained concentration during lengthy review of complex climate legislation or technical reports, using structured reading techniques to prevent attention drift Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Emotional regulation in feedback — manages reactive responses when policy recommendations receive sharp criticism from supervisors or stakeholders, pausing before responding defensively Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Developing
  1. Deliberate pace under pressure — slows analytical process during high-deadline policy sprints to avoid overlooking evidentiary nuances or logical gaps in critical legislative recommendations Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Stakeholder empathy calibration — attunes to the emotional and political concerns of diverse stakeholders during policy consultations, adjusting communication approach in real time to maintain productive dialogue Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Applying
  1. Intentional decision-making — applies structured pause-and-reflect practices before finalizing high-stakes legislative recommendations, ensuring conclusions are evidence-driven rather than deadline-driven Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Political environment awareness — maintains present-moment awareness of shifting legislative and stakeholder dynamics during multi-month policy campaigns, adjusting strategy without losing long-term analytical integrity Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Exceeding
  1. Organizational calm modeling — demonstrates and teaches regulated, intentional responses to political volatility and scientific uncertainty within the policy team, preventing reactive analytical errors under institutional pressure Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Mindful institutional leadership — designs team workflows and decision-making rituals that embed deliberate reflection at key policy development milestones, reducing cognitive overload and improving analytical quality across the organization Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
10Fortitude8 statements
Emerging
  1. Persistence through complexity — sustains productive effort on multi-month climate policy research projects when progress is slow and outcomes are uncertain Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Criticism tolerance — continues submitting policy recommendations after receiving adversarial pushback from politically motivated stakeholders without withdrawing from the analytical process Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Developing
  1. Regulatory uncertainty navigation — maintains analytical rigor and professional output quality during periods of significant legislative or administrative instability affecting the climate policy agenda Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Adversarial environment resilience — continues producing evidence-based climate analysis when organizational or political pressures favor conclusions unsupported by available science Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Applying
  1. Long-cycle perseverance — sustains focus and energy across multi-year climate policy initiatives where visible progress is incremental and institutional resistance is persistent Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Courage in contested testimony — delivers technically rigorous and scientifically grounded testimony before hostile legislative committees without diluting findings to reduce political friction Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Exceeding
  1. Systemic resilience leadership — models and institutionalizes professional perseverance within the policy team during prolonged periods of political opposition to climate action, maintaining organizational morale and analytical standards Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Field-level advocacy courage — publicly defends evidence-based climate policy positions in high-stakes national forums when those positions conflict with prevailing political narratives, accepting professional risk in service of scientific integrity Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Sources:Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Show O*NET source anchors51 anchors · skillscrosswalk.com

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Source anchors that ground each statement

Related titles
Clean Energy Policy Analyst · Climate Advisor · Climate Analyst · Climate and Energy Program Associate · Climate Change Analyst · Climate Change Risk Assessor · Climate Change Specialist · Climate Economist · Cumulative Effects Analyst · Ecological Risk Assessor · Environmental Change Analyst · Environmental Policy Analyst
RAPIDS apprenticeships
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O*NET skills
Reading ComprehensionActive ListeningCritical ThinkingWritingSpeakingActive LearningComplex Problem SolvingSystems EvaluationSystems AnalysisTime ManagementMonitoringSocial PerceptivenessJudgment and Decision MakingPersuasionInstructingCoordinationNegotiationService OrientationMathematicsLearning Strategies
Knowledge domains
Law and GovernmentEnglish LanguageMathematics
Abilities
Written ComprehensionOral ComprehensionInductive ReasoningDeductive ReasoningWritten ExpressionOral ExpressionProblem SensitivityNear VisionInformation OrderingSpeech Recognition
Work styles
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Technology
Object or component oriented development softwareAnalytical or scientific softwareGeographic information systemDevelopment environment softwareOperating system softwareSpreadsheet softwareOffice suite softwarePresentation softwareWord processing softwareInformation retrieval or search software
Tasks · seed anchors for statements
  1. Provide analytical support for policy briefs related to renewable energy, energy efficiency, or climate change.
  2. Propose new or modified policies involving use of traditional and alternative fuels, transportation of goods, and other factors relating to climate and climate change.
  3. Prepare study reports, memoranda, briefs, testimonies, or other written materials to inform government or environmental groups on environmental issues, such as climate change.
  4. Analyze and distill climate-related research findings to inform legislators, regulatory agencies, or other stakeholders.
  5. Make legislative recommendations related to climate change or environmental management, based on climate change policies, principles, programs, practices, and processes.
  6. Present climate-related information at public interest, governmental, or other meetings.
  7. Gather and review climate-related studies from government agencies, research laboratories, and other organizations.
  8. Review existing policies or legislation to identify environmental impacts.
CIP education codes
03.010303.010426.100426.100526.100630.320130.330130.410130.440140.050951.2202

Sources: O*NET v30.2 (CC BY 4.0), SkillsCrosswalk.com, LER.me, Anthropic Economic Index, SAFI (Jadhav & Danve, 2026), WEF Skills Taxonomy 2021, Pathsmith Durable Skills Framework. © 2026 EBSCOed.