A Successful Shift in Perspective

Anton Braun graduated as the second-best student of his year at the Graduate School of Climate Sciences and was honored with the ‘2024 Oeschger Young Scientist’s Prize’. He now works in climate protection at the Office for Environment and Energy of the Canton of Bern.

From Activism to Academia. During his undergraduate studies at the University of Göttingen, Anton Braun co-founded a university group with like-minded peers, committed to advocating for a sustainable future. Among other initiatives, they organized a lecture series on climate change. Over time, however, Braun felt the group’s environment was overly dominated by a sense of doom and decided to pursue a Master's in Climate Sciences to gain a ‘more professional perspective’ on the issue. “I realized there are also economic and political dimensions to climate change,” he explains.

The search for a degree programme with the broadest possible focus ultimately led the critical mind to the Graduate School of Climate Sciences at the University of Bern, where he wrote his Master's thesis in climate economics. He used a macroeconomic model to investigate how companies behave when they have to pay CO₂ taxes, for example, and was honored with the ‘2024 Oeschger Young Scientist's Prize’ for his outstanding Master's degree.

Looking Forward, Not Back

And how does Anton Braun see the climate crisis today? Is he more optimistic about the world now than when he was as a bachelor's student? “To some extent, yes,” he says. He has developed a more nuanced perspective. “I can see that the COP climate conferences have already achieved quite a lot. And I believe we are unlikely to stumble into a world that is four degrees warmer.” Most importantly, his studies have shifted his focus toward solutions: “I want to focus on what needs to be done in the future and not on what went wrong in the past.”

Braun also learned a lot about himself during his Master's degree. While theoretical work has always come easily to him – “After all, I specialized in highly theoretical climate economics” – he realized that he is more drawn to a career where he can apply his knowledge in practical ways. Beneath the successful theorist, it turns out, lies a hands-on problem solver.

A Father-Son Project in Scotland

Perhaps this is why he never abandoned his unique side project during his studies: Anton Braun travels to Scotland every one or two years as the author of a travel guide. More specifically, he updates an existing guidebook and adds new chapters. What makes the project special is that the original book was written 30 years ago by his father and a group of friends. Now, Braun is carrying on his father’s work.

Braun’s entry into professional life was relatively seamless. He secured a position at the Office for Environment and Energy of the Canton of Bern, where he had previously completed an internship. He is now working on various projects in the field of climate protection and the expansion of district heating. As part of the canton’s climate strategy, he is also involved in mapping out a pathway to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Braun considers himself fortunate: “It's not a given that you’ll find a job in your field right after graduating and be able to apply your expertise directly.”

No Return to Academia – For Now

As for his future career, Braun remains open to various possibilities. While he sees himself working in either the public or private sector, a return to academia is unlikely despite his award-winning degree. “Scientific research wasn’t really my world,” he admits. And his involvement in climate policy? He can't imagine getting involved in an activist organisation like Extinction Rebellion at the moment, says the climate scientist. “But I wouldn’t rule it out completely.”

(February 2025)