Every year, the Climate Adaptation, Resilience, and Empowerment (CARE) programme selects Canadian students to fund their studies at the Paris School of International Affairs (PSIA). The students must have been admitted in either the Master in Environmental Policy or the Master in International Energy Transitions. The main goal of our partnership with CARE is developing cross-cultural collaboration between France and Canada and making a positive impact on the world through preparing the next global climate leaders. The three Canadian partner universities of CARE are University of Toronto, University of Guelph, and University of British Columbia.

Meet Adenieke Lewis-Gibbs, Hannah Forsythe, Paris Liu, and Ryan Cheng, the four 2025 CARE Scholars as you learn about their passion for the environmental and their first few months at Sciences Po.

Adenieke, “My ecological passion came naturally”

After an early career working at the nexus of science and policy, I decided to strengthen my critical and academic understanding of climate-related issues and to develop new skills by pursuing a Master’s in Environmental Policy at Sciences Po.

I am notably interested in marine governance mechanisms, natural resource management and economics and science-inclusive policy fora, all topics I am immersing myself in during my present studies. Previously, I completed a combined Honours degree at Carleton University, where I studied journalism and French.

My ecological passion came naturally, growing up in Toronto with great Canadian nature at my fingertips. This interest only ballooned, as I covered local environmental stories and started my career in the public sector, learning about circular economy and Canadian natural resources.

After my Master’s, I hope to bring my skills and experience to an international space where I can continue interacting with a marketplace of ideas and worldviews. I am truly delighted to be at Sciences Po and am enthralled about the opportunities that lie ahead.

Hannah, “the protection of mountain regions is very dear to me”

I’m Hannah and I’m in the Master in Environmental Policy. Before Sciences Po, I studied at the University of British Columbia, graduating with a BA in International Relations and a Minor in Environment and Society.

I grew up in the Alps of Northern Italy and Austria and spent the last four years living in British Columbia. I love the mountains and am a super passionate skier, hiker and cyclist, which is why the protection of mountain regions is very dear to me. Growing up, I noticed the effects of climate change firsthand in the form of decreasing snowfall, melting glaciers and warmer summer temperatures in alpine environments. Experiencing these changes personally is what initially sparked my passion for the environment and my interest in finding global as well as local solutions for environmental protection and climate change adaptation.

Sciences Po has been an incredibly enrichening experience so far. I love the international environment at PSIA as well as the focus on gaining practical skills through lectures by professors who work in the field of environmental protection and climate change research. After graduating, I hope to be able to translate my passion for the protection of mountain areas into a career translating environmental science and research into concrete tools and solutions for policymaking. I know that my education at Sciences Po will set me up on the right path for achieving this.

Paris, “I hope to bridge civil engineering, climate change, and policy”

I completed my Bachelor's of Civil Engineering at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. I am passionate about leveraging my civil engineering background to explore how low-carbon, resilient solutions can address both the climate and housing crises. I hope to bridge civil engineering, climate change, and policy by creating technically sound policies that mitigate further global warming and protect the livelihoods of households around the world.

When I was 8 years old, I visited my family's hometown of Qingdao, China. As I walked along the shoreline, I remember seeing mounds of plastic debris and thinking, “This isn’t right.” This moment sparked a lifelong passion for environmental stewardship.

I’ve been loving Sciences Po - I love how our classes are taught mostly by industry practitioners, and I love the diversity of the content. Never in my life would I have thought I would have the opportunity to learn about the history of capitalism in the US, public speaking, or climate migration - and I get to do all three and more at Sciences Po!

I hope to spend the next few years working as an engineer to deepen my technical expertise in infrastructure. I believe this foundation will make me a more effective policymaker when I later transition into climate policy. At this moment, I am interested in climate finance for loss and damage with regard to infrastructure, either as a policymaker for a public organisation or as an international climate negotiator - though I remain open to how my master’s studies may shape my future direction!

Ryan, “I am especially interested in the global energy transition”

My name is Ryan Cheng, and I am pursuing a dual degree Master’s in International Energy Transitions at Sciences Po and Master of International Affairs - Climate, Energy, and Environment at Columbia University.

Before coming to Sciences Po, I worked as a management consultant for the Boston Consulting Group, where I advised multinational clients in the energy, mining, transport, and banking sectors. I previously completed my undergraduate studies at the Ivey Business School, University of Western Ontario, where I specialised in business and financial economics.

Growing up, I was fortunate to experience nature and wildlife both at home in Canada and during visits with my relatives in Australia, which sparked my passion for environmental sustainability. I am especially interested in the global energy transition and the ways policy and finance intersect to drive clean energy deployment, infrastructure investment, and sustainable economic development.

While studying at Sciences Po, I have particularly appreciated the school’s international perspective and the diverse experiences of my classmates and the faculty across the energy and climate fields. After graduating, I hope to work in energy, infrastructure, and economic development, with a focus on emerging and developing economies.