Economics of the environment and climate change

Qualifications Duration Start dates Application period
PhD
(MPhil also available)
Full time: 3–4 years
Part time: 6–8 years
February and October January to April
Qualifications
PhD (MPhil also available)
Duration
Full time: 3–4 years
Part time: 6–8 years
Start dates
February and October
Application period
January to April

The changing climate and environmental quality underpin economies. Economic activity at the micro and macro levels also fundamentally influences environmental sustainability. OU economists apply their diverse expertise to understand how economic decisions can have a net positive effect on the environment, and how environmental strategies affect the economy.

Our interests cover the full circle between natural resource extraction, supply chains, consumption and waste and pollution, as well as the role of individuals, private initiatives, innovation and public policy. We welcome proposals from all fields interested in researching issues across the environmental sustainability spectrum, like climate mitigation and adaptation, energy, landscape regeneration, water management, biodiversity, pollution and health, food systems, or environmental justice.

We are interested in both theoretical and applied research with policy implications, using qualitative and/or quantitative methods. Students will join a broad community of scholars working on environmental topics at the School of Social Sciences & Global Studies.

Entry requirements

Minimum 2:1 undergraduate degree (or equivalent). If you are not a UK citizen, you may need to prove your knowledge of English.

Potential research projects

Potential research topics include the role of personal finance in reducing carbon footprints, motivations and incentives for pro-environmental behaviour, inequalities in the energy transition, eco-social policies, green jobs, the role of public services, pension funds and degrowth, ecological debt, sovereign risk and climate finance.

Potential supervisors

  • Dr Teresa Ashe – climate change politics and policy, climate change scepticism
  • Julia Chukwuma – eco-social policies, green and socially just transition
  • Dr Jerome De-Henau – caring economy and green jobs, environmental practices through public services and gender
  • Dr Christine Laskaridis – climate and debt crisis, ecological debt, sovereign risk and climate finance
  • Dr Lorena Lombardozi – agro value chain, food systems, political ecology
  • Ms Jonquil Lowe – personal finance, and individual agency in reducing carbon
  • Dr Aiora Zabala – ecological economics, land-use, behavioural change

Fees and funding

UK fee International fee
Full time: £4,712 per year Full time: £11,958 per year
Part time: £2,356 per year Part time: £5,979 per year

Some of our research students are funded via The Grand Union Doctoral Training Partnership; others are self-funded.

For detailed information about fees and funding, visit Fees and studentships.

To see current funded studentship vacancies across all research areas, see Current studentships.

Links

The houses of Port Talbot and the emissions of the TATA Steel works that provides employment for the townsfolk.
 

How to apply

Get in touch

If you have an enquiry specific to this research topic, please contact:

Dr Rajiv Prabhakar

Email: FASS-Econ-PG-Admissions
Phone: +44 (0)1908 659656

Apply now

If you’re interested in applying for this research topic, please take a look at the application process.