Read: Pioneering universities offer first climate change degrees

Growing demand for greener courses has led to three pioneering universities offering climate change degrees for the first time.

Students started a BSc in climate change for the first time this academic year at Liverpool John Moores University. This autumn, the University of Greenwich will follow suit and the University of Northampton will launch its climate change degree in 2022.

All decided to set up the courses after growing interest from students and employers. There are currently other degrees that cover climate change but these are thought to be the first standalone courses.

All three universities are members of the Purpose Coalition, a collection of the most committed purpose-led leaders and organisations that have signed up to the Social Mobility Pledge and are now taking a lead in building back better and levelling up Britain.

Rt Hon Justine Greening

Rt Hon Justine Greening, former Education Secretary and co-founder of the Social Mobility Pledge, commented: “Harnessing the energy transition and ensuring that it is fair and creates opportunities across the UK is one of our Levelling Up Goals launched to set out clear objectives for the UK's Levelling Up challenge in the wake of Covid-19.

“I’m delighted to see three universities that we are working with closely as part of the Purpose Coalition leading the way in tackling climate change. Equipping young people with the right skills and knowledge will be crucial as we aim to reach our target of net zero emissions by 2050.”

Speaking to The Times, Dr Tim Lane, programme leader of the climate change degree at Liverpool John Moores, said: “Climate change is the largest threat facing humanity, and the school strikes and other action from children has shown us how invested young people are in these issues.

“We see this course as a clear way to help young people harness that energy into learning more about this subject, and creating informed, engaged, passionate climate change graduates who will make a difference in the world.”

Greenwich University said its decision to create the climate change degree starting this September was tied in with the COP26 conference in Glasgow. The aim is to create a workforce with better “climate literacy” and knowledge of green issues.

“Students starting higher education will enter employment during a pivotal period, where countries review and renew their decarbonisation commitments,” it said. Students will learn carbon accounting, geographic information systems, risk assessment and legal evaluation skills, “smart” food and agricultural innovation.

Dr Conor Walsh, the programme leader, told The Times: “Climate change is fast becoming the defining challenge of this century. Many organisations have committed to reducing their emissions. Today’s school leavers will be entering the workforce at a point where global efforts to mitigate emissions will need to be accelerated.”

Northampton will launch its course in September 2022. Greg Spellman, a senior lecturer, said to The Times: “Climate change has commonly been buried within geography and environmental science courses, but we believe it warrants a programme in its own right. It also happens to be the defining issue of our time, according to the United Nations.”