Research themes

Exploring the nexus between Sustainability and Inequality on various levels, specifically:  

• Sustainability and poverty, 
• The political economy of sustainability in the Global South, 
• Environmental justice and racism, 
• Climate change adaptation and gender.  

Conceptualizing economic and legal models for a sustainable (regenerative) society, specifically:  

• Alternative economic systems, 
• Necessary legal frameworks for sustainability, 
• Sustainability and the social solidarity economy, 
• Community-led environmental stewardship, 
• Sustainability and the administration of common goods.  

Climate action on various levels, specifically: 

• UNFCCC Climate Process and Implementation, 
• Key economic considerations for sustainability in the final decade of SDG action, 
• Farmers in the climate action, 
• Building resilience against environmental shocks (e.g. pandemics).  

Financing the socio-ecological transition, specifically: 

• Role of Central Banks and International Development Banks in just transition, 
• Public money for public goods, 
• Repurposing agricultural subsidies – from subsidies to delivery of public services.
  
  

Research questions

Inequality: 

• How can we achieve a socially and ecologically just world without perpetuating racism or neo-colonialism? 
• What does ‘sustainability’ mean to the marginalized communities who suffer the most the environmental disasters? How can this definition inform public policies? 
• How can we make international processes just and participatory?  

Economic and legal concepts:  

• How is the climate crisis connected to the capitalist system and to what extent must the capitalist system be changed in order to ensure long-term and overall sustainability? 
• What legal framework is necessary to support sustainability? 
• What are the limitations of economic thinking in addressing environmental problems? Can alternative approaches help address the impacts of climate change and potential policies? 
• Between technological breakthroughs and social innovations of the millennials, what will the cooperative of 2050 be made of?  

Climate action:  

• How does environmental activism challenge the capitalist system, and what methods, limitations, and learning outcomes are involved? 
• How to start and accelerate systemic policy making? Especially on the nexus of climate change and agricultural policy-making. 
• Value of soil health in policymaking? EU Soil Mission, CA4SH: Coalition of Action for Soil Health, National Soil Advocate & the Parliamentary Friends of Soil Health – Australia  

Financing: 

• Putting (private) money to work through the IDBs: International Development Banks? 
• How can a socio-ecological transition be financed? 
• What is the role of finance in achieving sustainable development in the Global South?