University of Sussex Introduces UK's First Climate Justice Undergraduate Degree

The new undergraduate degree in climate justice will equip the next generation with the skills and knowledge needed to lead the work for sustainability and justice.

The University of Sussex has introduced the UK’s first-ever undergraduate-level climate justice degree in the social sciences. This course has been launched against the backdrop of more requirements for courses on the impact of climate change. According to a recent survey, around 72% of students between the age group of 14 and 18 years old want to learn about climate change. There is a huge demand for humanities and social sciences-based climate education.  

Professor Geert De Neve, Head of the School of Global Studies at Sussex, said, “This course is a response to rising demand from young people across the UK and beyond. Our own research found that over three-quarters (76%) of social science applicants wanted to learn more about climate change. It will provide a unique opportunity for students to combine their passion for tackling the climate crisis with the skills and knowledge required to lead in the fight for sustainability and justice. It reflects Sussex’s long-standing commitment to educating students who can drive positive global impact.”

Will Lock, co-convener of the new course and a lecturer in international development and anthropology says, “We’re integrating lots of new forms of assessment, new forms of getting students engaged in real-world challenges. As an example, my third year module that I’m teaching at the moment, which is part of the [new] course, is a modular political ecology and environmental justice to disciplines that are really focused on public communication and surfacing injustice stories from around the world. Rather than having a 5,000-word essay at the end of the module, we have a podcast that students are working on in groups and think about how they would convey the complexity of the case studies and examples to a wider audience," as reported by The Guardian.

About BA in Climate Justice, Sustainability and Development

The course will commence in 2026 and it will equip students with expertise in activism, politics, and environmental human rights. It will also offer the practical green skills needed in the real world, it is the ability and knowledge of doing things which can protect the environment.

The focus of the course will be on historical responsibility and address social equity, and economic shifts in climate change.

"The course offers a multidisciplinary education, teaching students to live and work sustainably while showcasing their skills to employers. Drawing on Sussex’s tradition of activism and disruptive thinking, the programme includes skills-based teaching through real-world problem-solving, engaging with local projects and green careers-focused activities," says the university statement.

The course is designed to respond to the increasing requirements of employers and businesses for practical green skills and solutions-focused teaching in climate change. A LinkedIn research highlights the increasing value of sustainability experts in the job market which suggests that the candidates with the green skills are 54.6% more likely to secure the jobs as compared to others.

Read more:

• Macquarie University Gets $5.4M In Health And Medical Research Grants
• Study in UK: University of Essex Reaccredited as University of Sanctuary