Augustin Bourleaud is one of the 5 laureates of the 2022 Entente Cordiale for the climate scholarship. He is currently studying for a MSc in International Political Economy at the London School of Economics and Political Science.
I grew up in Bordeaux before starting my higher education in the Euro-American program at Sciences Po. After obtaining my Bachelor's degree, I joined a double master's degree between the School of International Affairs of Sciences Po (Master Environmental Policy) and the London School of Economics (LSE) (MSc International Political Economy). It was during my year in London that I received the Entente Cordiale Climate Grant from the British CounciUltimately, I want to work on mitigating climate change and adapting to its impacts – two areas which I believe are of comparable importance in a world already suffering the consequences of climate change.
Although I was able to focus on environmental issues during my Master's year at Sciences Po, I am convinced that the fight against climate change requires a global vision, going beyond mere knowledge of environmental subjects. With this in mind, joining the MSc International Political Economy (IPE) at LSE will allow me to better understand the challenges of the international economy, which are closely linked to the issues of decarbonization and adaptation to environmental change. The consequences of the war in Ukraine on the energy markets, on inflation and ultimately on national energy policies have reinforced my desire to deepen my knowledge of political economy.
The choice of LSE has its relevance, the university being renowned for the quality of its teaching in economics and social sciences. With this in mind, the IPE master's combines the excellence of the international relations department and the university's expertise in economics. During my studies, I also had the opportunity to take an interest in the research of certain professors in the Department of International Relations, in particular Robert Falkner and his work on the international political economy of the climate. The IPE master will allow me to choose options from other departments, such as geography or international development – which are among the best in the world.
The year ahead therefore promises to be intense, and I would like to sincerely thank the British Council for the financial and institutional assistance offered to me so that I can tackle it calmly. I am very grateful to the members of the team responsible for awarding scholarships for their trust, availability and kindness.
If you are interested in carrying out studies in the United Kingdom (whether at Bachelor or Master level), do not hesitate to contact me by email — I will be happy to answer you!