Environmental Justice and Governance

Master's specialisation of Environment and Society StudiesEnvironmental Justice and Governance

Environmental justice is a core, urgent issue in sustainability. Who benefits or suffers from pollution? This specialisation explores how to create a healthy environment for people, animals, and nature, while ensuring fair and just sustainability transitions.

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Something for you?

  • You are passionate about understanding how societal and economic systems cause environmental injustices.
  • You want to explore how governance can promote environmental justice and reduce inequalities.
  • You are open to critically reflecting on one’s own privilege and societal position.
Why this programme?

Admission requirements

Do you want to know if you can be admitted? Read more about the admission requirements of this programme.

Admission and application
The end goal is to contribute insights that bring society a step further into a sustainable future.
Maria Kaufmann
Maria Kaufmann
Assistant Professor
Testimonials

What will you learn

  • This specialisation familiarises students with the latest scholarly insights, key concepts, and debates in environmental justice, with a strong emphasis on governance.
  • You will analyse the root causes of environmental injustices, including historical power dynamics like colonialism and imperialism, as well as contemporary challenges such as the energy transition and climate change.
  • You will critically explore how governance institutions can both harm people and (nonhuman) nature, and how they can be reformed to reduce these injustices.
Study programme

Future career opportunities

This specialisation equips you with skills to analyse and design sustainability policies, facilitate multi-stakeholder collaboration, and draft strategic documents on environmental and societal issues. Graduates often pursue careers as:
•    Environmental practitioner or consultant
•    Campaigner in environmental organisations
•    Policymaker in a government setting
•    Academic researcher or analyst

Career prospects

Research

A few examples to indicate the type of research in this specialisation:

  • How can underprivileged communities transition to renewable energy in a fair and effective way despite financial and social challenges?
  • How can Indonesian slums become more resilient to water-related disasters through inclusive governance that integrates both societal and technical solutions?
  • How does the European Union work on just transition with the help of the Just Transition Mechanism and Just Transition Fund?

More about our research

Questions about this programme?

Do you have a question about this programme? We're happy to help. Please contact us, ask a student or check out our information activities.

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Tuitions & grants

If you are going to follow this Master's programme, you will pay an annual tuition fee. There are different tuition rates. The amount depends on your personal situation.

Tuition