Centre for Energy and Climate Policy

Solving the intertwined global energy and climate challenges requires a swift and meaningful shift towards low-carbon energy sources and technologies, protection of natural assets as well as more sustainable resource consumption.

Yet transitioning economies around the world onto a more energy-secure, resilient and climate-friendly footing is a costly, complex and often politically fraught process. The SOAS Centre for Energy and Climate Policy provides a forum for the critical discussion of these challenges and, through independent research, analysis and engagement with stakeholders, develops actionable policy solutions with a particular focus on the Global South.

Specifically, the Centre’s objectives are to:

• foster research links between Centre members and academic and practitioner communities across London, the UK, and internationally on themes relevant to the Centre’s research streams;
• support the teaching of energy and climate policy through the MSc in Global Energy and Climate Policy (on campus and online), professional skills courses, as well as related courses and programmes across SOAS
• facilitate discussion, research and scholarship related to energy and climate policy with particular attention to the political economy of energy and sustainability transitions, climate adaptation and resilience building, and energy and climate diplomacy and governance
• encourage and support applications for project-based and institutional research funding from external sources for workshops, speakers, publications and academic exchange in areas relating to energy and climate policy

Located in the SOAS Department of Politics and International Studies, the Centre welcomes membership from all interested parties across the School. 

Research

Centre members produce cutting-edge research and analysis useful to both academic and practitioner audiences and are frequently called upon to provide policymakers and private sector stakeholders with expert analysis and insight.

The Centre’s research is built around three main streams:

• The political economy of energy and sustainability transitions
• Climate adaptation and resilience building
• Energy and climate diplomacy and governance

Through its research streams and current as well as past research projects, the Centre for Energy and Climate Policy can evidence a strong track record in approaching energy and climate policy with a focus on the Global South (projects addressing African, Asian and Middle Eastern contexts).

Teaching

Through its MSc in Global Energy and Climate Policy (on campus and online), professional training courses aimed at public and private sector audiences, and a series of seminars and events targeting the wider SOAS and academic community, the Centre aims to train and support the next generation of energy and climate leaders.