The London School of Economics (LSE) is set to establish a Global School of Sustainability, an initiative aimed at advancing global efforts towards a sustainable, resilient, and inclusive future. Scheduled to launch in 2025, the School will become a premier center of expertise, driving policy innovation and promoting economic growth, social inclusion, and environmental protection. It will serve as a platform to convene global experts and train the next generation of leaders dedicated to sustainability.
The Global School of Sustainability will build upon the pioneering work of the Grantham Research Institute for Climate Change and the Environment, as well as LSE’s other academic departments and researchers. Its mission will be supported by a Strategy Board consisting of some of the most influential leaders in sustainability.
The board members include Mark Carney, Chair of Brookfield Asset Management and United Nations Special Envoy for Climate Action and Finance; Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organization; Amartya Sen, Nobel Laureate in Economics; and Lord Adair Turner, Chair of the Energy Transitions Commission.
The new School will focus on delivering both immediate and long-term impacts by addressing five key policy challenges: generating sustainable growth and development, creating sustainable finance and business models, mobilising political and legal systems for effective governance, transforming societal behaviors, and protecting biodiversity.
To achieve this, the School will pioneer cutting-edge research and offer scholarship support to students globally. LSE plans to embed sustainability across its core undergraduate and postgraduate programs while developing new joint degree offerings and executive education programmes.
A critical component of the School’s strategy will be the creation of a Global Sustainability Research Fund, which will accelerate innovative research projects by leveraging LSE’s interdisciplinary approach. The School will also act as a powerful convening body, developing networks at the local, national, and international levels to foster impactful collaboration across sectors.
The Global School of Sustainability was conceptualised by Professor Lord Nicholas Stern and Lei Zhang, an LSE alumnus and global greentech entrepreneur. Zhang, who earned an MSc in Operational Research from LSE in 2002, has committed an initial GBP 25 million to the School’s establishment.
He said, “I believe that social policy innovation is critical for us to collectively reach net zero. The Global School of Sustainability will accelerate and advance research in this area to foster a greener and more responsible world.”
The Global School will collaborate closely with leading academic institutions and experts worldwide, including climate scientists, governments, NGOs, civil society organisations, and leaders from the business, finance, and legal sectors. This interdisciplinary and international approach will help address the complexities of global sustainability challenges.
On the announcement, LSE President and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Larry Kramer said, “Climate change is already devastating our natural environment, with huge economic, political and social consequences. To stave off disaster, policymakers need to be guided by robust, evidence-based research. The Global School of Sustainability will bring together experts from across academia, industry and policy to explore ways forward, create networks to deliver change, and train the next generation of leaders to address this complex, global issue. I am immensely grateful for the vision and support of Lei Zhang which has made this possible, as well as our Strategy Board members, who will steer LSE in this endeavour.”
The Global School of Sustainability’s inaugural Chair, Professor Lord Nicholas Stern said, “The world is on an unsustainable path of growth and development. There is a real urgency to act to avoid the immense risks we face and there are great opportunities in a new and different path. But the challenges of creating that new way are difficult and deep. The obstacles lie in large measure in economics, politics, and society. They are also inescapably international. Thus, LSE is surely the right place for crucial academic work and policy analysis to take place. We are very grateful for the vision and generosity of Lei Zhang that enables us to embark on this new School.”
