Assistant Policy Analyst with Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy in British Columbia
For this co-op term, I work as an Assistant Policy Analyst in the Climate Action Secretariat (CAS) at the BC Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy. In BC, facilities with over 10,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions per year are required to quantify and report their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions using prescribed methodologies. My main role is to support my team through a project reviewing the current methodologies to help capture reliable and timely emissions data with updated sciences. With the support of my supervisor, I identified areas for improvement in current methodologies by researching industrial sectors, literature, and reviewing legislation. I summarize the key information in a spreadsheet with rationales of why it is important or less important. This spreadsheet will provide references and help my team determine priorities and for revising the methodologies.
Additionally, this job is full of opportunities for me to grow and develop. For example, I explored project management tools. Also, I volunteered to help with the planning of a workshop that engaged industrial stakeholders. I sincerely appreciate the chance of working in a dynamic, positive, and multidisciplinary team. My supervisor and team members have been amazing and helpful. I have learnt a lot from them! Another cool thing that I have accomplished in this Co-op term is that I joined our CAS team and finished the TC10K race!
In the past, I concentrated on studying the sciences. This co-op placement has made me realize the importance and complexity of science-based policy development. It has given me lots of new thoughts about my professional path. In my opinion, co-op is an amazing opportunity for students because it can diversify our experiences and allow us to explore different professional fields and our passion.
