Accessibility statement

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.