Climate Change, Society and Sustainable Futures MSc

Course Details
Anthropogenic climate change and associated global environmental challenges pose profound questions for the future of human and non-human life. What futures might climate change bring, as environmental crises intersect and overlap with other global challenges? Amid loss and damage, what futures might be desirable and possible? And how can we cultivate sustainable futures given global inequalities, vulnerabilities, and unequal capacities?

This programme responds to the profound challenge of developing ‘sustainable futures’ in the context of a changing climate. Your learning will focus on both a) understanding the relations between climate change and society, and b) exploring and evaluating alternatives and experiments across the globe that aim to create sustainable futures from within intersecting environmental crises.

You’ll learn about how climate change is profoundly affecting societies and is being responded to across the globe, in the wider context of efforts to generate sustainable futures (for example through the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals). You will also develop a series of research skills and gain experience of working with partners, alongside the leadership and engagement and communication skills necessary to help you contribute to global efforts to enhance environmental sustainability.

Why Durham University?
Geography at Durham explores the very real challenges facing the world, be they natural or a consequence of human activity. Through teaching and research in risk, climate change, sustainable futures, hazards and security, we provide in-depth insight into these problems and how they might be resolved using practical and sustainable solutions.

The Department of Geography is a global academic centre for the study of physical and human geography. Our high-quality research and our industry connections combine to create a learning experience underpinned by the theory and practice to take on the challenges we face as a result of natural events and human activity.

Facilities
The Department of Geography is located on the main campus of Durham University at Lower Mountjoy, not far from the historic centre of the city with UNESCO World Heritage status.

Career Opportunities
Studying in a department with a global reputation for the quality of research, our postgraduates are well placed to continue research at a higher level or progress into a rewarding professional career.

Taught courses are designed to develop the transferable skills that are highly sought after by employers such as the ability to analyse and communicate complex data and make decisions, and our postgraduates are much valued in areas such as government, non-governmental organisations and the charity sector.

Other roles in which postgraduates make a real difference to people and communities include environmental consultancy, conservation, town planning, geopolitical risk analysis, market research, insurance, development work, health, public policy, social research, logistics, education, energy, utilities, tourism, banking, law, PR, IT.