LSE | Politics and Policy of Climate Change and Sustainability | Online Certificate Course

Programme type
Online Certificate Course
Location
Online
Start date
30 Jul 2025 - Open
Duration
6 weeks
Commitment
6-8 hours per week
Department
Department of Government

Overview
Impact
Programme content
Who attends?
Why LSE?
Faculty
Fees and entry requirements

Overview

This course explores the policy interventions and political dynamics crucial for mitigating climate change and improving sustainability. It delves into the conceptual foundations of climate politics and assesses sustainability challenges across diverse contexts.

A central theme is the political economy of climate (in)action, examining the origins and persistence of climate change as a sustainability transition challenge. The course identifies approaches for advancing ambitious climate and sustainability policy and engages with debates on the Just Transition, net-zero commitments, the merits of environmental authoritarianism, and political advocacy for and against climate action. It also assesses corporate climate governance and emerging attempts to govern geoengineering.

The course considers how policymakers can address intensifying climate change and unsustainable resource use by diagnosing policy gridlock, building coalitions, and empowering change among public and private actors. The case studies primarily, but not exclusively, focus on domestic environmental politics in advanced industrialised democracies. By the end of the course, you’ll have the insight to prescribe and justify policy interventions to accelerate sustainability transitions.

Study Online with LSE

The LSE Online Campus

What it's like to study with LSE Online

Impact

Learn how policymakers can overcome political gridlock and build new coalitions for effectively addressing climate change and resource use.
Explore the political dynamics, policy interventions, and strategies that shape efforts to mitigate climate change and promote sustainability.
Engage with key debates and case studies for understanding and advancing sustainability transitions, examining topics like the Just Transition, net-zero commitments, and geoengineering.

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Programme content

This online certificate course is 6 weeks (excluding orientation week) with a time commitment of 6-8 hours per week.

Programme Structure

How you learn

CPD certified

Who attends?

Policy makers, especially those in institutions with sectoral portfolios (e.g., energy, transport, defence, health, education, and labour).
Policy advocates and technical experts (e.g., lawyers, planners, engineers, and data scientists) working on climate- and sustainability-related projects.
Project managers in international development, consulting, and the private sector with metrics linked to the Sustainable Development Goals.
Members of corporate Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG) units or staff with ESG responsibilities.

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Why LSE?

LSE Online builds on our 125 year tradition of exploring the interconnected, multidisciplinary nature of our world that shape society and business globally. Since our inception in 1895, LSE has been a pioneer in providing courses for professional development. Our founding commitment is to understand the causes of things for the betterment of society. Never has this been a more important goal than in these times of unparalleled change. We provide you with the insights and skills to think critically and independently. To make the connections, see the greater picture. To shape the future by understanding today. Whatever stage you are in your life and career. Wherever you are in the world.

Faculty

The design of this online certificate course is guided by LSE faculty, as well as industry experts, who will share their experience and in-depth knowledge with you throughout the course.

Department overview

The Department of Government at LSE is home to some of the most internationally respected experts in politics and government; producing influential research that has a global impact on policy, and delivering world-class teaching to our students. Its alumni can be found found in the world's leading political science departments, as well as in journalism, commerce, central and local government, and non-governmental organisations globally.