This year, the School of Public Affairs has created a new module, “Policy-Making Initiative for Sustainability” in partnership with the European Chair for Sustainable Development and Climate Transition.  Over four months, Master’s students were guided in examining controversies related to socio-environmental transitions and designing public policy recommendations.  This programme is structured in two main phases. The first focuses on familiarizing participants with controversy mapping, based on the methodology originally developed by Bruno Latour. The second involves formulating public policy recommendations grounded in scientific evidence and contextualized through the mapping process. Throughout the semester, participants received support through guidance sessions, masterclasses, and methodological workshops including the chair’s activities. 

This year, several controversy topics were explored:

• The integrity of biodiversity credits
• Gender considerations in transition strategies
• The implementation of low-emission zones
• The Great Green Wall and local conflicts

Students presented their work and policy briefs to a jury composed of various experts. Throughout the semester, students delivered remarkable work, tackling complex topics fraught with uncertainties and exploring innovative approaches to shaping public policies. 

The published policy briefs are found below:

• Unlocking Private Finance for Nature: A Regulatory Blueprint for Biodiversity Markets in the EU, by Rose AUPEPIN DE LAMOTHE-DREUZY, Salika MEHTA and Zélie POTTECHER
• Recommendations for Increasing the Acceptability of the Implementation of Paris’ Low Emission Zone (LEZ), by Catalina ORDONEZ, Hunter HUBBARD, Irène THOMAS and Emilie GAYCHET
• The Great Green Wall: Towards Transparent, Participatory, and Equitable Restoration, by Gabriella COHEN, Lou DUCARTERON, Alice GALES, Ewa JAROSZ, Giorgia RAVERA and Katharina REISENBAUER
• Integrating Care Work into Just Transition Strategies, by Clara BERNARD, Shrinidi Nedumaram LAKSHMINARAYANAN, Sofia BENCURIKOVA, Vishal Vidya PRABAKARAN and Juana PERDOMENICO