With climate change emerging as one of the world’s greatest challenges, Trent University has launched a new Climate Change Science & Policy degree to provide students with the environmental, social, economic and political knowledge to effectively tackle this issue.

“Climate change is society’s most pressing issue and the need to take action to meet global climate goals drove the creation of this degree program,” says Dr. Shaun Watmough, director of the Trent School of the Environment. “While there is growing awareness of climate change and its impacts within the environmental sector, this program crosses many sectors, allowing students to understand the core scientific processes that are changing our climate and develop business plans and policy that will have a positive influence on society.”

Offered through the interdisciplinary Trent School of the Environment (TSE), this program will meet the demands for climate experts by increasing the opportunity for people to study climate change science as well as adaptation and mitigation measures that will lessen its impact.

Students completing this Bachelor of Science degree will study a range of climate-related topics that are unique at the undergraduate level. In addition to climate science and impacts, learners will examine the role of business, politics, policy, and technology in climate solutions and the real-world applications of solutions. Opportunities for experiential learning in the program include field courses, placement courses, community-based research projects, undergraduate research placements, and honours theses, which are available to all TSE students.

“There is no issue that is more difficult for society and governments to figure out, and there is no shortage of work and opportunities in this area,” said Dr. Stephen Hill, associate director of the Trent School of the Environment, who teaches Climate Energy and Policy. “How the degree is shaped now is what students currently need to know, but it will evolve with the times as this is a dynamic scientific field.”

As the knowledge, experience and skills to address the impacts of climate change evolves, graduates of this program could find themselves in a range of important careers, from government climate change specialists to corporate strategists monitoring and managing company greenhouse gas emissions, to scientists contributing to knowledge of climate change impacts on ecosystems and economies.

Ultimately, this program is an opportunity for people who see climate change as the place where they want to make a difference to achieve their aspirations.

“It’s an enormous task to meet our climate goals, particularly keeping the average global temperature increase to the 1.5- or 2-degree scenarios,” said Professor Hill. “It’s a problem that asks us to act quickly and boldly to adapt to climate change because the changes are present. It will be challenging, but in the School of the Environment, we work to find solutions and take actions that make a difference.”

Learn more about the Bachelor of Science in Climate Change Science & Policy.

Learn more about the Trent School of the Environment.