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OUR WORK

We believe that working together will help drive results.

Scotland Beyond Net Zero is a coalition designed to catalyse research collaboration, empower our communities and inform the policymaking and action Scotland needs to reach its ambitious targets.

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Our Research themes

Scotland Beyond Net Zero’s partner universities, will work to combine our research strengths to build interdisciplinary collaborations around six core themes: Built Environment, Energy, Finance, Food, Natural Systems, and Transport. Read more about each of these themes and meet the related researchers via the quick links below.

Built Environment

Built Environment

From research in modern architecture, urban planning, and civil engineering to the design of energy-efficient buildings and the use of sustainable construction materials, our researchers are considering how the world that we have forged around us holds the potential to accelerate our race to achieving net zero.

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Energy

Energy

Energy is perhaps the most obvious research area that springs to mind when considering our goal of achieving net-zero emissions. From increased understanding of renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal power to improving energy efficiency and storage capabilities, research into energy is fundamental to achieving our goal of reaching net zero emissions.

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Finance

Finance

Finance is closely linked to the climate crisis – how can and should global and local financial flows support sustainable technologies, institutions and practices? How to pay for the transition required to mitigate and adapt to climate change? Academic research can highlight the ways that investment practices can align with sustainability objectives. Financial investments could channel efforts towards low-carbon and climate-resilient projects to help accelerate the transition to a net zero carbon economy.

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Food

Food

Almost a third of greenhouse gas emissions are associated with our current food systems. To understand the role food production plays in achieving net zero, we’re bringing together interdisciplinary research that looks at the impact and opportunities across multiple stages of the food supply lifecycle, including issues of justice and fairness in access to sustainable and good food across society.

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Natural Systems

Natural Systems

Through research into ecosystems, biodiversity, and natural processes, we can unlock the knowledge to develop strategies that harness nature’s potential to sequester carbon, and mitigate and adapt to climate change. Nature-based approaches to climate change can also create opportunities for community benefits and sustainable local development, while also revealing how Scotland’s nature, land and environment is a product of its history. 

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Transport

Transport

With a wave of new developments and advancements in environmental technologies, it’s an exciting and pivotal moment in the transportation sector. Further research aims to understand how cutting-edge technologies can not only mitigate the transport sector’s traditional environmental impacts, but shape the future of how we get around in ways that are fair, accessible and affordable.

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Finance

Close Work Area

Finance

Finance is closely linked to the climate crisis, both through the decisions the people and institutions make about investment – for example funding fossil fuels – as well as its carbon impact (for example trading or mining). But with these negative associations comes opportunities; the rise of green finance, political advocacy, and carbon pricing or taxes.

Shifting financial practices towards sustainable investments and integrating climate considerations into decision-making processes is crucial for addressing the climate crisis effectively. Our researchers also consider how changing financial decisions, structures, institutions and power relations can help bring about a more just net zero transition in Scotland and beyond.

Our research

Research in finance explores new financial mechanisms that incentivise sustainable investments and discourage high-carbon activities. Studies into green finance, sustainable investment strategies, and the integration of environmental, social, and governance criteria into financial decision-making provide critical insights for reshaping the financial landscape.

Academic research in finance aims to create a clear roadmap for how investment practices can align with sustainability objectives. One aim is to redirect capital flows towards low-carbon and climate-resilient projects, to help accelerate the transition to a just and net zero carbon economy. Through engaging with topics like gender and international development aspects of climate finance, our research also considers how and why financial structures are as they are – and how they could be fairer and more sustainable.

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Our Researchers

Meet the researchers involved with studies on finance and its role in achieving net zero.

 

The University of Edinburgh

Dr. Karishma Ansaram

SBNZ Academic Theme lead - Finance and Lecturer in Climate Finance and Investment
kansaram@ed.ac.uk

The University of Edinburgh

Dr. Ronan Bolton

Reader in Science Technology and Innovation Studies
Ronan.bolton@ed.ac.uk

The University of Edinburgh

Dr. Ian Cochran

Visiting Lecturer in Climate Finance & Investment
icochran@ed.ac.uk

The University of Edinburgh

Lynne Craig

Senior Lecturer Design Informatics
lynne.craig@ed.ac.uk

The University of Glasgow

Prof. Jamie Cross

Director, Glasgow Changing Futures
jamie.cross@ed.ac.uk

University of Aberdeen

Dr. Weihao Han

Lecturer in Finance
weihao.han@abdn.ac.uk

The University of Edinburgh

Prof. Gbenga Ibikunle

Professor and Chair of Finance; Director of the Edinburgh Centre for Financial Innovations
Gbenga.Ibikunle@ed.ac.uk

Glasgow Caledonian University

Professor Tahseen Jafry

Director of the Mary Robinson Centre for Climate Justice
t.jafry@gcu.ac.uk

The University of Dundee

Dr. Dilip Jena

Lecturer in Energy Economics
d.k.z.jena@dundee.ac.uk

The University of Glasgow

Dr Theodore Koutmeridis

Senior Lecturer Economics
Theodore.Koutmeridis@glasgow.ac.uk

University of Aberdeen

Prof. Georgios Leontidis

Local SBNZ lead for the University of Aberdeen, and Interdisciplinary Director for Data and Artificial Intelligence
georgios.leontidis@abdn.ac.uk

Glasgow Caledonian University

Dr Sennan David Mattar

Sennan.mattar@gcu.ac.uk

The University of Edinburgh

Stuart Simmons

Business Development Manager, School of GeoSciences
stuart.simmons@ed.ac.uk

The University of Edinburgh

George Tarvit

Director of the Sustainable Scotland Network (SSN)
george.tarvit@ed.ac.uk

The University of Dundee

Prof. Ian Thomson

Professor of Accounting and Sustainability
Ithomson002@dundee.ac.uk

The University of Edinburgh

Clare Wharmby

Climate Strategies Lead, ECCI
clare.wharmby@ed.ac.uk

Related Articles – Finance

Read the latest articles about finance from our universities.

EXPLORE OTHER RESEARCH THEMES:

Built Environment

Energy

Food

Natural Systems

Transport

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