Professor Claude Henry is a physicist (quantum mechanics) turned economist. He has taught public economics and environment economics at Ecole Polytechnique in Paris and at Lausanne University. He has written articles and books on these subjects. He is currently teaching on innovation and sustainable development at Sciences-Po Paris.

From 1997 to 2002, he has been an adviser to the Prime Minister of France on matters pertaining to public utilities and environmental policies. He is currently an adviser to the Director of the European Environmental Agency.