LUCAS - Climate Change and Society

Climate change is one of the most complex issues facing humanity today. It involves many dimensions – science, economics, society, politics, and moral and ethical questions – and is a global problem, felt on local scales. If left unchecked climate change will cause average global temperatures to increase beyond 3°C, and will adversely affect every ecosystem. Already, we are seeing how climate change can exacerbate storms and disasters, and threats such as food and water scarcity, which can lead to conflict.

Knowledge, skills and competencies 

Building on 20 years of successful education at LUCSUS, this 2-years international master of science programme will train students to analyse and understand the causes and consequences of climate change and how these are rooted in social, economic, political, and cultural complexity.

Situated within ongoing theoretical debates in sustainability science, human geography, and political sciences, LUCAS will equip students with the necessary basis that prepares them to work as scholars, policymakers, leaders, and practitioners in a world where climate change poses increasing challenges to all aspects of society. 

The programme develops students' core competences in analysing societal and environmental dynamics, with a basis in methodologies that range from established qualitative ethnographic approaches to modelling, scenario building, fieldwork case studies and participatory exercises, and climate action labs. It also includes an internship.

Unique programme qualities

The LUCAS programme is set in a unique interdisciplinary and internationally excellent educational and research environment at Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies. Students are exposed to different perspectives, world views and experiences, and to climate change challenges in different parts of the world. 

Courses are taught by teachers and researchers from both the social and natural sciences with the aim of creating graduates that are able to grasp, analyse, and formulate strategies to work with climate change and society.

As a student, you receive training and competence in working in cross-cultural and inter-disciplinary teams, and skills to communicate and work with different target groups and with a range of organisations.

Career prospects

As a LUCAS graduate you are equipped to work in a range of sectors, both within and outside academia, and in a number of professional roles. 

You will gain specialist skills that make you suitable for working with climate change and sustainability, employing a critical and constructive understanding of climate change transformations at local, national, and international levels.