Tom Jouvet, Master of Public Administration, School of International and Public Affairs

Which program/department are you in?

Master of Public Administration, School of International and Public Affairs.

What is your primary area of research?

Energy & Environment and International Finance & Economic Policy.

Which country (or countries) do you come from?

France.

How long have you been in the U.S.?

I have been living in New York City since September.

Tell us about your research and projects at Columbia.

I am an MPA candidate concentrating in Energy & Environment and International Finance & Economic Policy at Columbia SIPA, doing a dual degree with Sciences Po’s Master in Public Policy in Energy, Environment & Sustainability, to foster my expertise around sustainable finance and climate policy. 

Currently, I’m working with SIPA’s Center on Global Energy Policy to improve carbon accounting methodology. As well, I’m conducting a World Bank capstone on pension funds greening as well as a study on voluntary carbon markets with the UN Sustainable Stock Exchange to foster sustainable finance. 

Share with us about your work before Columbia.

I have an academic background in computer & electrical engineering as well as energy engineering. 

Interested in effective altruism, I was part of a humanitarian student group that led initiatives in France and Asia. I had the opportunity to conduct humanitarian internships in Vietnam and Laos and to create a partnership with a Cambodian NGO. At the time, my interest in science was clear but I became more and more convinced that social and environmental challenges require public policy solutions. 

Driven by public service to address social and environmental challenges, I shifted my focus toward public policy, performing two internships in the French Parliament. I assisted elected officials on climate policy, crafting over 125 proposals to achieve France’s net-zero strategy. In doing so, combining scientific knowledge with socioeconomic concerns to drive effective public policies became my career goal. 

Last year, I was advocating in a student environmental think tank, Déclic, where we crafted environmental policy proposals for policymakers. I suggested two proposals on fossil fuel divestment and public aid’s environmental conditionalities. As well, I represented 70 of our members on the stakeholder committee of the French energy company Engie Renewables, to voice our concerns. At the same time, I co-organized with my rhetorics student group Conférence Olivaint a consortium on “The State in the Face of Climate Change”. 

Last summer, I was a sustainable finance analyst intern at the French Agency for Ecological Transition (ADEME) where I developed indicators to assess the decarbonization of financial institutions, under the ACT4Finance methodology, a joint voluntary initiative of the UNFCCC secretariat Global Climate Agenda. 

What do you like about NYC/ Columbia and what do you do in your free time? 

I really enjoy the mix of culture and international opportunities the city provides. In my free time, I am an eager reader and just began karate at Dodge Fitness Center.

Connect with Tom on Twitter and LinkedIn.

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