UCD Environmental Policy

About UCD Environmental Policy

Established over 40 years ago, UCD Environmental Policy has an international reputation as a centre of excellence and the University is in the Top 50 in the world in the QS rankings for Sustainability. UCD Environmental Policy comprises a research-intensive faculty group that have been central to national and international debates and policy action. Our Faculty have held senior government advisory roles and our graduates are distinguished policy advisers in the public and private sectors across the globe.

The challenges associated with the interaction between economic and environmental change are highly contested, and there is a growing demand for graduates with the ability to analyse complex environmental problems, while ‘thinking critically’ about potential policy actions. Our mission is to provide teaching programmes that address some of the most pressing challenges facing societies and policy-makers across the globe, including sustainable development; climate change; energy and transport; urbanisation and land-use; natural resource management.

Our undergraduate programmes are delivered by research-active Faculty, with the programme content informed by the latest research and by their own policy experience. The Faculty research agenda is wide-ranging addressing key thematic areas of direct relevance to policy including:

• Climate Change Economics and Policy
• Environmental Behavioural Science
• Cost Benefit Analysis and Environmental Valuation
• Policy Instruments, Taxation and Emissions Trading
• Transport, Energy and Smart Cities
• Economic Measures of Sustainability
• Quality of Life
• Well-being and the Environment
• Renewable Energy
• Risk Perception and Hazard Management
• Corporate Sustainability and ESG