Mathilde Jourde

Mathilde Jourde is a Research Fellow at IRIS and Head of the Climate, Environment and Security Programme. In this capacity, she also serves as Co-Director of the Defence and Climate Observatory, a project funded by the French Ministry of the Armed Forces.

Working at the intersection of geopolitical and environmental issues, she specialises in climate security. More specifically, her research focuses on the impact of climate change on geopolitics (power dynamics and interstate tensions), the nation state (defence-related challenges), and human security (population vulnerabilities), as well as on the environmental consequences of armed conflicts. One of her main research areas examines how climate change is instrumentalised — and even weaponised — by states as a tool of power and influence (HADR operations, climate disinformation, etc.).

Alongside her research activities, Mathilde Jourde teaches on the Advanced Diploma in International Relations (equivalent to Master’s level) at IRIS Sup’, the school of applied geopolitics attached to IRIS.

Before joining IRIS, she worked for several years in the private sector. As a decarbonisation consultant, she primarily developed low-carbon strategies for companies.

She holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations and History from the London School of Economics and Political Science and a Master’s degree in Sustainable Development and Social Innovation from HEC Paris.