MSc Environmental Policy and Regulation

Why did you choose the course/LSE?

I chose the MSc in Environmental Policy and Regulation (EPR) at LSE because my previous academic and professional experiences were almost entirely in science, as I have a specialist BSc in ecology and an MSc in integrative biology. After working in Canadian federal Parliament, I decided to pivot from science to policy, and I needed an education that would help me gain a better understanding of the relative benefits of different policy tools available for environmental policy and regulation. The EPR course has exceeded my expectations and has done a wonderful job of preparing me for a career transition into policy.

What has been the highlight of your LSE experience?

The highlight of my LSE experience was twofold – the people on my course were incredible, and I had a fantastic time over the course of the year getting to know them all better, including on a course trip to Marrakech. I also thoroughly enjoyed working on my dissertation, for which I had the opportunity to work on expanding the Transition Pathway Initiative (TPI), an asset-owner led initiative which assesses companies' preparedness for the transition to a low carbon economy, and which is based at the LSE’s Grantham Research Institute (GRI) on Climate Change and the Environment.

How are you planning to use your degree for your future career?

I am currently working as a Research Assistant at the GRI helping to expand the TPI, so I am already using the skills and knowledge I gained while working on my dissertation in a professional context. More generally, I plan to use my LSE degree to research socially responsible investing and to promote investor engagement strategies for addressing climate change. I further plan to pursue a PhD in this area in the next 5 years.

Sum up your experience in 3 words:

Enriching, engaging, enduring.

Why did you choose the course/LSE?

I chose LSE and the programme for several different reasons. I had experience working in energy and environment policy areas but wanted to focus on environmental policy. LSE and the EPR programme presented an opportunity to study environmental policy at an institution and in a department that are both very well established and respected globally. The professors and access to resources at LSE were phenomenal and is one of my favourite parts about LSE. Another reason for why I chose LSE was because of the global nature of LSE. Students in my courses and in the EPR programme were from all over the world, providing me with many different viewpoints and worldviews.

What has been the highlight of your LSE experience?

Two main aspects stand out as highlights from my LSE experience. First was the overall experience of attending LSE and living in London. The many world-renowned speakers, professors, and other resources available through LSE, combined with living in London provided me with many memorable moments and surreal experiences over the course of the year. Second was the global nature of LSE and the programme. Over the course of the year I met interesting people from all over the world who brought different perspectives and viewpoints. A bonus of LSE and the programme was now that I have graduated, I also have a network of friends all over the world!

How are you planning to use your degree for your future career?

The programme and my year at LSE helped me continue to develop useful career skills like analysis, research, writing, and reasoning. All of which I have found useful in my professional career. I am currently working for a multinational energy company in a policy advocacy role, hoping to progress down this route and continue to work in the policy advocacy and analysis area. 

Sum up your experience in 3 words:

Eye-opening, engaging, fun.

Why did you choose the course/LSE?

I wanted to study the social sciences approach to environmental issues and understand the theoretical approaches to policy and regulations, considering the recent emphasis on pro-environment public policy. Considering LSE's reputation in the social sciences and the Geography department's international rankings, it seemed like the right place to be. 

What has been the highlight of your LSE experience?

I've been surprised by the calibre of passionate students, international speakers and researchers that LSE attracts to campus. My time at LSE has questioned my beliefs, ideas and preconceived notions by forcing me to think about the unintended consequences of conventional approaches to environmental problem-solving. I particularly really enjoyed lectures by the speaker series: the social costs of climate change. 

How are you planning to use your degree for your future career?

Through my extracurricular involvement and dissertation thesis on plastics, I have been trying to define myself as a circular economy professional. I have been very fortunate to bear some fruits in my endeavours. In March of 2019, I was accepted in the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's Circular Economy Pioneer Program, the NGO's global early professionals development program, and in June of 2019, I was awarded an Emerging Leaders Scholarship by GreenBiz Group to participate in the Circularity 2019 conference in Minneapolis, US. After graduation, I will be joining SystemIQ as an Associate Consultant, to find systems-based solutions to large scale sustainability challenges. 

Sum up your experience in 3 words:

Well, it depends. 

Why did you choose the course/LSE?

Coming from a fairly broad, interdisciplinary academic background, I was eager to narrow my focus to a subject that I was interested in and passionate about. I thought the EPR MSc offered the perfect complement to my existing knowledge, while allowing me to develop greater understanding of a multitude of key environmental issues and their many intersections. Having reached out to former peers of mine who studied at LSE, I knew from their testimonial that the school would provide the right amount of academic rigor while also offering a supportive and engaging social community.      

What was the highlight of your LSE experience?

The highlight of my LSE experience was meeting brilliant people from all over the world, who each brought their own unique experiences and nuanced perspectives to bear on class concepts. On top of the excellent teaching throughout the course, engaging with my peers during class discussions really brought the course material to life, linking it to real-world barriers and applications in fascinating ways. Beyond what they offered in the classroom, my classmates were also some of the most kind and genuine people I’ve met. I felt very lucky to have been part of such a special, close-knit cohort. These are truly friendships that last long after the programme ends. 

How has your degree been useful for your career?

First, this degree allows you to go in almost any direction with your career. Understanding the efficacy of policy interventions under various conditions will be useful regardless of whether you choose to enter government, private, non-profit or academic sectors upon graduation.

Second, in addition to providing me with knowledge of a vast array of environmental topics, this program taught me make connections across sectors and disciplines, which is an important skill in any profession.

Finally, completing this MSc has made me more effective at building and structuring arguments, engaging critically with a concept, and articulating my thoughts clearly and persuasively.  

Sum up your LSE experience in 3 words:

Exciting, enlightening, & fun! 

I chose LSE's MSc in EPR for two reasons. Firstly, from an academic background in the natural sciences, I went into a working environment where I dealt with policy issues but had no practical means of adapting my 'technical' knowledge to issues of corporate, national or international policy and governance.  The format of the MSc programme seemed to have the right blend of theoretical and practical knowledge that would equip me to deal with 'real world' issues. 

Secondly, the success or failure of many environmental policies hinge on how those policies will impact trade, development and national economies.  With the ability of many multi-national companies to influence the adoption of international policies by national governments, I felt it essential to gain a fundamental knowledge of the actual and perceived environmental barriers to economic development and vice versa. 

With its research facilities and the ease of access to information -  provided both by LSE and by the School's location in the centre of the city and its convenient proximity to other institutions and libraries, LSE seemed the appropriate place to achieve this. 

My time at LSE has made me more aware of the importance of study skills and the need for discipline, and provided me with a better understanding of the need for balance in all aspects of my life. After LSE I plan to work with a NGO focused on developing environmental policy and putting that policy to practical use, particularly in developing areas of the world.

What did you enjoy the most about your programme? I enjoyed the passion of the teachers, the effort they put into their lectures and seminars and the consequent engagement of fellow students. The discussions in the seminars were extremely interesting and beneficial to the development of my own opinions on the subject. 

What are the benefits of studying in London/ at the LSE? The alumni network was key to securing a job after the course. The profile of professors was impressive, as were the many interesting speakers and guest lecturers throughout the year. 

What was your background before studying your MSc? I had just completed my undergraduate degree at the University of Edinburgh in International Relations.

Has studying at the LSE positively influenced your career or study prospects? The course turned what was a passion into something that I am qualified to work in. It was the education I needed to be qualified to apply for jobs in the sector. It also helped me decide that I wanted to expand on my previous work experiences in the public and third sector, into the private. 

What are you doing now and where do you see yourself in 5 years? I am currently an analyst at The Carbon Trust in their business services department. I see myself working here for a few years in order to develop my analytical skills. With this I eventually hope to specialize in sustainable food, although I am undecided if this would be in the private sector or the third sector. 

What is your current job? I am a Research Associate with the Centre for Policy Research, New Delhi. At CPR, I am part of the team involved in a project titled ‘Scaling City Institutions for India – Urban Sanitation’, specifically working on understanding the relationships between sanitation technologies and the social contexts in which they are embedded.

‪What is your background? Prior to enrolling onto a master’s degree programme, I read for the BSc in Environmental Policy with Economics at the LSE.

‪Did you have professional experience in the field beforehand? My prior experience was limited to internships in the sector, such as working for GIST Advisory, a consultancy focused on issues of economic appraisal of the environment.

Why did you choose MSc Environmental Policy and Regulation? The course offered a natural progression for someone looking to gain a deeper understanding of the various approaches to environmental policy at the local, national, and international level.

‪What was it about LSE that made you want to study here? The breadth of modules available within the department with the opportunity to audit from other leading social science departments is unique to the LSE. Also, access to the multi-disciplinary LSE public lecture series was a natural draw.

‪What did you enjoy most about the programme? The programme attracts students from across the globe, which results in insightful class discussions borrowing from different approaches to policy in various contexts.

‪Has MSc EPR proven useful in the world of work? The dissertation component allowed me to investigate a research question of relevance to the environment domain. Working independently on the design of the study and gaining familiarity with different methodological approaches has proved most valuable for a carrier in public policy. 

‪How did you find living and studying in London? A real eye-opener; the experience of spending four years in the heart of London threw up many practical challenges, most of which end up teaching you invaluable life skills.

‪How do you think employers view MSc EPR graduates? Reading for a specialised programme such as EPR has a niche appeal, which employers in the domain value most highly.

‪Was the programme challenging? The degree of the challenge depends upon each student’s willingness to engage with the taught modules, independent dissertation research, and group discussions.

‪Did you make any useful contacts while on the programme? One of the real strengths of the programme, the course draws the brightest students from across the globe committed to pursuing careers in the field of environmental policy. Since my time at the LSE, I continue to be in touch with and learn from the breadth of experience of my course mates.

‪Do you have any advice for prospective students? If you are committed to pursuing a career in public policy towards the environment, the programme offers a perfect blend of theory and real world application.

‪What would your company look for in a graduate? The emphasis on a deep understanding of the methodologies used to investigate contemporary environmental issues.

If you have one highlight from MSc EPR, what would it be? The composition of my class – students from a variety of different countries with rich past experiences, all at different stages of their careers.

Zoe Anton is the Sustainability Manager at the Prince’s Foundation. Her work includes developing sustainability policies within master plans for several live projects throughout the United Kingdom and internationally in Louisiana, USA, Freetown, Sierra Leone and Gabon. Zoe contributes regularly to ongoing research projects, including improving methodologies for the valuation of ecosystem services and finance mechanisms for ecological economics in development phasing.

Before her MSc in Environmental Policy & Regulation at LSE, Zoe earned a B.A. (Cum Laude) from the University of Oregon, where she majored in both French and International Studies with a minor in Communications. She undertook additional studies at the Université de Poitiers in International Law.

Prior to joining the Prince’s Foundation, Zoe worked as a sustainability consultant for the Estates Division at LSE and as a project manager at the London Wildlife Trust, focusing on community engagement. She sits on the steering group for Camley Street Natural Park and continues to be an active volunteer. While at LSE, Zoe competed for the running team and acted as events coordinator for the Environment Society.

After LSE, Paul spent two years working with the University of Westminster and a private consultancy on researching and implementing green transport and cycling initiatives in inner London. The role combined interesting elements of behavioural change theory coupled with urban/transport planning. Paul has been working at British Airways for just over a year. While still 'green transport', this role's focus is more on carbon footprinting/reporting and biofuel policy.

While at LSE, Paul completed several voluntary internships including stints with the Environmental Law Foundation and the Carbon Disclosure Project.

Siddharth is currently working on Risk Management and Portfolio Optimization at WINGAS UK (a joint venture of the BASF Group and Gazprom). He focuses on analysing the market risk of the company's natural gas supply contracts and other traded positions. He is also responsible for building strategies to optimize the risk-return profile.

Previously, he worked as an Analyst at Lehman Brothers/Nomura. His interest in energy started with a consulting assignment for a solar thermal energy company. Siddharth received a Masters in Environmental Policy & Regulation from LSE, where his primary interest was in renewable energy. His first degree was in Computer Science from IIT Kanpur, India.

Siddharth’s top tip for careers is: "It is often difficult to identify exactly what one wants to do. Moreover, this is invariably a moving target. Hence, in a first job, the focus should always be on learning as much as possible about various career paths. Also, one should never expect to get everything right in the first job. In fact, most people will make mistakes but the idea is to learn from them and make sure these are corrected in subsequent choices of jobs and other related decisions."

Sarah Johnson is the Assistant Head of CCS Strategy for the Department of Energy and Climate Change. Prior to this she was Private Secretary to two Secretaries of State at the Department, with responsibility for the Energy Portfolio, Economic Affairs and Home Affairs amongst other areas. She began work in DECC as a policy advisor developing emissions reduction strategies across the UK’s public sector estate, helping achieve a 14% reduction in emissions in one year (over 100,000 tCO2). Sarah previously worked as the Head of Environmental Practice at a City consultancy.

Sarah holds an MSc in Environmental Policy at the LSE, and a Bachelors of Arts Honours in Economics and Geography at Trinity College, Dublin.

Ji Yeon has a BSc Social Science - Asia Pacific Studies from Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, Japan and an MSc Environmental Policy & Regulation from LSE. She currently works as a Project Officer, Global Operations at CDP. CDP is a not-for-profit organization working with institutional investors, companies, and cities to disclose climate change information & natural capital consumption.

Ji Yeon supports CDP’s operation in countries where CDP works in partnership with local organizations; South Korea, Taiwan, Turkey and South Africa. Prior to this job she interned at CDP with a different team, worked part time for CDP and the UN PRI.

Ji Yeon’s top tip in getting a job is look for and follow opportunities that look interesting, and positions that can make the most out of your skills such as languages and regional expertise. Her advice is to look for sectors where your unique skills are needed. While at LSE, Ji Yeon was a member of LSE Japan Society, LSE Korea Society, and the Japanese students network in University of London. Often positions related to national/regional expertise come through these networks.

Why did you choose the course/LSE? I originally discovered the department when the "Stern Review" was published. When choosing my course, I was particularly impressed by how many heavy-weight academics the department had, as well as by the flexibility in the programme structure to choose one's modules. Ultimately, London as a location was also very intriguing, by being one of the global hotspots for companies, events and people. 

What was the highlight of your LSE experience? Undoubtedly the people - such a bright crowd with educationally and culturally diverse backgrounds, from whom I learned by far the most. I was very happy with how humble and down to earth people were, despite being very ambitious. With my programme friends we made trips to Brighton, Calais, and Finnish Lapland throughout the year.

How has your degree been useful for your career? LSE has a remarkable knack for bringing interesting companies and people on campus. But my degree particularly provided me the tools to get an understanding of the world of climate finance, which I find tremendously useful in my job.  

Sum up your LSE experience in 3 words: Intense, Diverse, Intriguing.

Maia Kutner is the Technical Manager for Data and Greenhouse Gas Accounting at the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP). Maia helps companies report climate change-related information to investors and clients. She also works with multiple stakeholders to facilitate the understanding of corporate environmental data and drive its use in research and decision-making. Prior to CDP Maia worked in the Israeli Parliament advancing environmental legislation and ran a social enterprise supporting Palestinian farmers.

Maia holds an MSc in Environmental Policy and Regulation from LSE, and a BA in Economics, Political Science and Philosophy from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Luca Lytton is a Research Manager at the RAC Foundation, where he is responsible for the environmental research brief. He has written and project-managed reports on low-carbon vehicles, and has been involved in the Foundation’s ongoing work on road pricing. He previously worked for a Member of the European Parliament in Brussels on the EU’s CO2 emissions from cars regulation, as well as a policy think tank in Berlin, where he researched the EU’s energy and climate change policy.

Luca holds an MSc in Environmental Policy and Regulation from the London School of Economics and a BA in European Studies from the University of Maastricht.

Colin McKerracher is a clean energy analyst with Bloomberg New Energy Finance where he covers the smart grid sector and energy efficiency. Prior to joining Bloomberg, Colin was the director of sales and marketing for Energy Aware Technology, a smart grid technology company, and the business development manager for a Canadian biofuel company. Prior to his MSc in Environmental Policy and Regulation from LSE, Colin received a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of British Columbia.

His top careers tip: "Talk to as many people as possible, not only for networking but also to really understand what people do on a day-to-day basis and to see if that sounds like something you’re interested in. Your job search is about more than just landing a job, its your chance to explore what the full range of possibilities is before heading down a specific track."

Diego is a Senior Country Risk Analyst for IHS Global Insight/IHS Jane’s Information Group. He covers the political, security, and business environment of a number of countries in Latin America, including Venezuela, Peru and Cuba. He has previously worked for a private law firm in Venezuela and served as Chief Secretary of the Attorney General's Office. He is frequently quoted and interviewed by Bloomberg, Reuters, Associated Press, Wall Street Journal, BBC and others.

Diego has an MSc in Environmental Policy and Regulation from LSE, a postgraduate degree in Administrative Law from Universidad Catolica Andres Bello in Caracas, Venezuela, and a Bachelor of Law (LLB) from Universidad Santa María in Caracas, Venezuela. Whilst a student at LSE, Diego was part of the Committee of LSESU's Environmental Society. Currently he is in the Executive Committee of the British Venezuelan Society and Chamber of Commerce.

His top tip in getting a job is be flexible and open to new opportunities, even in areas that you might never have thought of working in. LSE’s MSc in Environmental Policy and Regulation equips students with technical expertise which is suitable for a variety careers in a range of different sectors.

Smita Nakhooda is a Research Fellow in the Climate Change Environment and Forests Program at Overseas Development Institute, where she leads work on energy and low carbon development, and on international finance to help developing countries address climate change. Smita has previously worked in the World Resources Institute in Washington D.C, as well as IDASA and the United Nations Development Program in Africa. Smita’s broad areas of expertise are climate change finance, and energy policy in developing countries.

Smita holds an MSc in Environmental Policy and Regulation from the LSE and a BA in Government and Environmental Studies from Dartmouth College (USA).

Abigail Paris is a consultant in PwC's Sustainability and Climate Change practice. She specialises in life cycle assessment and Environmental Profit & Loss. She is currently on secondment to PwC UK, tasked with creating a valuation methodology for water pollution.

Prior to joining PwC, Abigail worked as an editor for Nouriel Roubini's economics firm. She has also written leading articles for the Carnegie Council focusing on sustainability and globalization.

As well as a masters in Environmental Policy and Regulation from the London School of Economics, Abigail holds undergraduate degrees from Bard College in Economics and Science & Technology.

While at the LSE, Abigail was involved in both the Sustainable Future Consulting and Socially Responsible Investment societies.

David recently joined nef (new economics foundation) as a Researcher. He is now leading the think tank’s work on infrastructure and social return on investment.

David’s previous experience includes working at an investment fund in the United States that specialised in generating social returns on investment and at a clean-tech consultancy in London. In addition, he has wide-ranging professional research expertise conducting public policy research projects in academic and public sector settings in Europe, the UK and the US.

David holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Policy and Regulation from the London School of Economics. Whilst at the LSE, he was the recipient of the Ormsby Prize for best dissertation, which developed the hybrid concept of strategic behavioural niche management to stimulate sustainable actions.

Klaas has a BSc in Ecology and Conservation from the University of St Andrews, and graduated from the LSE with a Masters in Environmental Policy and Regulation. He currently works for the International Sustainability Unit, one of The Prince's Charities, on fisheries sustainability. He works on fisheries governance and development, with a particular focus on developing country fisheries and private finance involvement in fisheries transitions to sustainability.

Klaas' top tip in getting a job is to talk to people. "The most amazing opportunities come along through networking and not through job listings, so do try to develop your contacts."

Whilst at the LSE, he represented the EPR cohort in communicating with faculty, which was a great opportunity to hone communication skills and understand more about how organisations structure themselves.