General Objectives

The Master in Ecological transition, Risks and Governance at Paris Climate School trains students to develop the tools, skills and knowledge they need to effectively understand, analyze and manage issues in the ecological transition field, including climate sciences, earth interdependencies and energy systems, legal stakes of climate changes, economics for the transition, geopolitics of climate and resources, etc.

Main orientations and specific features

The curriculum in Ecological transition, Risks and Governance is divided into three academic semesters and one semester dedicated to a professional internship, a master thesis or an exchange study program at a partner university.

The three semesters at Sciences Po offer a rigorous academic training at the intersection of environmental sciences and social sciences. 

It is structured around five intellectual pillars:

Interdisciplinary foundations

Students study Master fundamental courses relating to the major challenges of the ecological transition, including: 

• Economics for the Transition
• Legal Stakes for the Planet
• Societies in Transition
• Geopolitics & Climate Diplomacy
• Earth Politics

These courses provide in-depth knowledge of the economic, social, political and legal dynamics of transition, in order to train professionals capable of analysing interdependencies and anticipating conflicts or trade-offs at all levels.

Biophysical and technological Literacy

Students are equipped to engage critically with scientific knowledge, through the following courses and modules: 

• Earth System & Interdependencies
• Scientific Literacy
• Technology, Innovation & Engineering Literacy
• Climate Science

They give students the ability to engage with the exact sciences, understand the physical and technological processes at work, and integrate material and systemic constraints into their future decisions.

Three specialisation tracks based on professional integration and applied practice

The programme offers three specialisation tracks that allow students to build in-depth expertise:

• Financing the Transition
• Value Chains & Industrial Transformations
• Adaptation, Risks & Resilience

Each specialisation track combines one course per semester with progressive practical applications:

• Practitioner-led seminars;
• Interdisciplinary case studies based on real-world challenges;
• A "Transformation Lab" in Year 2, functioning as a policy and institutional design clinic;
• A mandatory internship and a final Master’s thesis or capstone.

Risk, Adaptation, and Resilience

The program addresses the growing imperative to manage systemic risks, adapt to non-linear disruptions, and anticipate cascading crises. 

In addition to the specialisation track dedicated to these topics, several modules explore risk governance and crisis management, insurance instruments and financial adaptation.

Methodologies and Decision Sciences

Students are trained in both quantitative and qualitative methods (statistics, modelling, field inquiry, scenario-building, controversy mapping), and develop strategic competencies in crisis simulation, robust decision-making, change management and organisational transformation.

Below is the degree structure for the Master in Ecological
transition, Risks and Governance :

Download the program structure (PDF, 57 Kb).

Career opportunities

The Paris Climate School's curriculum has been developed in collaboration with recruiters from both the public and private sectors. They all agree on the need for cross-disciplinary profiles with a systemic vision of transition. 

Future graduates will be prepared to take on a range of strategic positions:

• In companies: strategy management, financial management, risk management, corporate social responsibility management, etc.;
• In government: general management of administration, public bodies, etc.;
• In local authorities: within the governance of a region, department, or city;
• In European and international institutions and ministries.

They will be able to work on public environmental policies, as well as economic and sectoral policies.

Contact

If you have any questions, please send an email to paris.climate-school@sciencespo.fr.