
Society & Organizations Institute
Climate and Earth
Climate and Earth
HEC Paris is committed to a sustainability strategy that is driven by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the imperative obligation for humankind to join forces to support climate action and protect both the environment and biodiversity.
The business world recognizes today that the planet is under major stress due to two factors: the impact of economic activity on climate and the environment; and companies are not taking enough responsibility towards ecological and energy transitions.
The COVID-19 pandemic has further highlighted the risks derived from the destruction of natural ecosystems and the fragility of globalized economies. It has raised awareness on the possible disastrous consequences of a much larger-scale climate crisis.
While more and more companies have embraced their environmental responsibilities and the objective of a decarbonized economy, they still miss a shared vision for solving the challenges and trade-offs NEEDED FOR business and industry transformations. Students want to become sustainable changemakers but they need the knowledge, networks and mentoring to make a difference as solution-builders. Research and higher education institutions have the mission to shape new visions and models for a carbon-zero and environmentally sustainable future, and provide policymakers, business leaders and students with a compass to navigate the challenges and uncertainties.
It is the role of the S&O Institute at HEC Paris to inspire and develop research and education with an impact on Climate & Earth- related topics.
Our 3 pillars: Research, Education and Action for Climate Change
NEWS
Energy and Finance Chair
On December 2019, The Energy and Finance Chair sponsored by Société Générale and held by Jean-Michel Gauthier, Affiliate Professor in Finance and expert in the energy sector joined the S&O Center. The energy world is going through an unprecedented change. In 25 years, global energy will be completely transformed: decarbonized, decentralized, digitized. The Chair is key to training leaders from all sectors in energy-transition issues and aligned with the S&O objectives related to climate and ecological transition.
Since its foundation in 2005, the Energy and Finance Chair created by Société Générale and HEC Paris has developed a number of training programs on energy economics and finance, including the flagship Certificate on Energy & Finance, a 6-week intensive module dedicated to energy markets and economics and delivered by SG professionals and executives or the HEC Energy & Finance chairperson, and attracts over 120 students every year.
Interview of Jean-Michel Gauthier, Holder of the Chair: from the oil industry to the Energy Transition
Read the Knowledge@HEC interview
"The leaders of the World Economic Forum in Davos identified climate risk as the greatest and most far-reaching threat to the global economy for the third year in a row. That applies to all companies and all countries." Jean-Michel Gauthier, Holder of the Chair
It is the duty of managers across the board to learn about the challenges of the energy.
Events
We are pleased to announce the organization of the 13th edition of the Medici Summer School in Management Studies for doctoral students and young researchers June 14 –18, 2021. The school is organized and sponsored by Bologna Business School (University of Bologna), HEC Paris (Society and Organizations Institute) and MIT Sloan School of Management (Economic Sociology PhD Program).

HEC Paris Students Grapple with Climate Change
On November 7, HEC Students for Sustainability welcomed guest speaker Darius Seiller for its first Climate Nights event. This series aims to foster an institution-wide commitment to environmental issues. A June 2018 alumnus, Darius Seiller is the co-founder and CEO of...