Climate change poses the greatest existential threat to society and the environment today. Development, consumption, and population and economic growth, among other challenges, are placing pressures globally on vital natural resources, such as freshwater and food systems, as well as on energy demands. Inequity in wealth and resource access is growing in many places, while globally, poverty contributes to, and is a consequence of, environmental degradation.
Policies intended to alleviate poverty and promote economic development must be cognizant of their effects on the environment. Similarly, policies to mitigate and adapt to climate change, as well as share, protect, and sustain the environment, must be cognizant of their effects on poverty and economic growth.
At Fletcher, you can train to make a difference to help solve these problems and lead us to a sustainable and equitable future.
Study International Development and Environmental Policy (IDEP) with global leaders, scholars, and practitioners. Contribute to groundbreaking research with Fletcher’s Center for International Environment and Resource Policy, such as with the Climate Policy Lab and the Shared Waters Lab. Dive into interdisciplinary coursework to examine the many dimensions of development policy from both macro and micro perspectives while also learning to address environmental policies relating to energy use, technology choice, water and other natural resources, and climate change from a range of perspectives, including science, economics, politics, diplomacy, law, and engineering.
We excel in thinking about the cross-section between international relations, global affairs, and the environmental space. Complex problems are inherently interdisciplinary, and these global challenges can not be solved within singular sectors, such as energy, water, or climate. We’re not going to be able to address those problems wholly without thinking interdisciplinarily.
Our courses in international development approach the ongoing challenge of global poverty from a wide range of policy-relevant perspectives. Why are some countries rich while others remain mired in poverty? The many possible answers to that question include both macroeconomic issues of growth, the role of institutions, and the role of government in guiding development in a competitive global market, and microeconomic issues of how households and firms interact with – often failing – markets and the impact of program interventions intended to lift households out of poverty. Successful long-run development strategies require the diverse perspectives that we integrate in our approach to this field.
How can we use our ocean’s resources sustainably for economic growth, improved livelihoods, and jobs? Many sectors realize how vast and rich our oceans are. When the resources seem endless, the question is how we can make use of them, while preserving the health of marine ecosystems. The idea is that the blue economy needs to have a different approach; we can’t just extract resources from our oceans. Our oceans are what keep us alive.
MALD and MIB students complete 12 credits in their field of study. MGA students complete 15 credits plus a practicum.
MALD and MIB students take 9 credits. MGA students take 6 credits.
MGA students select one of the following courses:
MGA students must complete a practicum for their field of study.
