It is hard to deny that climate change and environmental sustainability are key concerns facing our planet. Reports of extreme weather phenomena and environmental degradation abound, making the headlines almost daily. Following a sharp rise in global awareness of these issues, and fervent calls for reform, politicians and businesses cannot avoid the crisis but instead take concrete action on issues such as pollution, waste management and the environmental impact of their policies, whether in the name of corporate social responsibility or the rule of law. There is a rising demand for professionals with an environmental background who can bring game-changing ideas to the table. To meet this need, universities have begun rolling out degree programmes that integrate environmental studies into mainstream learning, to help nurture future generations of multidisciplinary environmentalists. Some of these coveted programmes are run in Hong Kong. They include the master’s of science postgraduate degree in environmental science and management (EVSM) at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), and the master’s of laws (LLM) in energy and environmental law at Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK). “In the context of the green economic transition, experts are needed and are in demand to facilitate the reorganisation of business towards sustainability,” says Anatole Boute, associate professor and admissions coordinator for the LLM programme at CUHK. Indeed, such professionals are eagerly sought not just by business but also government bodies who are bringing out new initiatives, policies and regulations. One example is the Greater Bay Area development project bringing together Guangzhou, Hong Kong and Macau, as well as eight other municipalities, to create a borderless economic hub. One of the project’s core tenets is sustainability and the need to address environmental issues across provincial borders. Graduates with an understanding of cross-border cooperation and the role of the law in ensuring effective management of cross-border natural resources will be in great demand, academics say. These degree programmes have stepped in to fill the gap. “The EVSM programme aims to strengthen students’ professional status with updated and advanced knowledge in important and emerging environmental issues and concepts,” says Arthur Lau, programme director of the MSc/PGD in environmental science and management and associate professor of interdisciplinary education in the division of environment and sustainability at HKUST. “Its multidisciplinary perspective aims to cultivate the stewardship of sustainable development in their professional industries and sectors,” he adds. Students accepted onto the multidisciplinary programme are expected to complete at least three courses each from the science and management streams. They can then choose from four other courses, including an individual master’s project, that they must complete as part of their graduation requirements. There is also a strong emphasis on integrating course content with industrial and commercial needs. Students are expected to go on study trips designed to link theory to practice in the field. Lau says the programme is open to anyone interested in the latest advancements in environmental science and technologies and management practices, as well as those keen to advance their career prospects in environmental management. “In a world where global warming, air pollution and waste management are major issues, environmental science is becoming an increasingly valued and relevant degree,” says Emily Rose, a 2015 EVSM class graduate who now works as a senior officer in the corporate development and strategy department at Link Reit. “I chose EVSM because even though it is a relatively new field in Hong Kong, it combines elements of the key traditional fields of chemistry and biology, and is widely recognised as a rigorous and academic degree,” Rose says. She adds that the programme’s interdisciplinary nature involves developing a wide range of transferable skills, leading to a wider perspective on future careers. But while the pursuit of change is always good, change itself is mostly underpinned by the rule of law. This is where the CUHK LLM energy and environmental law programme can further fill the gap. Students gain an in-depth understanding of the legal aspects governing key challenges in energy security and environmental protection. They are trained to practise in the areas of energy investment and trade, project finance and infrastructure development, and clean energy and climate change mitigation, focusing on specific energy and sustainability challenges in Asia-Pacific. “This is the first international programme of this kind in the region,” explains Boute. “It presents an international and comparative perspective on energy and environmental regulation by focusing on the key challenges that characterise this region.” Indeed, few universities in the world have the capacity to offer courses ranging from traditional oil and gas law and electricity regulation, to project finance, clean energy investment and climate change. Unsurprisingly, the programme, which has 50 places, is highly coveted, with applicants in 2018 from 18 nations, including 11 “Belt and Road Initiative” countries such as Georgia, India, Kazakhstan and Papua New Guinea. “One thing I have learned on this programme is that in looking at environmental and energy issues, you must not do so only from a legal perspective,” says current student Dixon Pascal Lai. “You have to consider the political, economic and financial aspects of each issue. The programme helps students gain a good general understanding of, and interest in, environmental and energy law, politics and economics.”