Erik Gawel

Prof. Dr. Erik Gawel is a Professor of Economics (Environmental Institutional Economics) at the University of Leipzig and the Head of the Department of Economics at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ). He leads the Institute for Infrastructure and Resources Management and is a Publicly Certified Expert for Cost Accounting of Public Enterprises. His research focuses on environmental and energy economics, infrastructure economics, and public finance, with an emphasis on climate change, bioenergy, water resources, and the energy transition. He holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Cologne (1994) and has held academic roles since 2002, including Vice Dean at Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences (2004–2008). He is a member of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts (since 2015).

Education:

• PhD in Economics, University of Cologne (1994)
• Habilitation in Economics, University of Augsburg (2004)
• Diplom-Volkswirt (Master of Economics), University of Cologne (1989)

Research Interests: Gawel’s work addresses the economic dimensions of environmental policy, including climate change mitigation, energy transition economics, and sustainable infrastructure. He explores policy instruments like taxation, subsidies, and regulatory frameworks to balance economic growth with ecological sustainability. Recent studies include analyzing China-EU circular economy cooperation, plastic pollution’s role in the triple planetary crisis, and governance of water and energy systems.

Scientific Awards:

• Member of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts (since 2015)

Advising and Grants: Gawel leads major research initiatives such as the Kopernikus Project ENavi (Energiewende-Navigationssystem) and the Helmholtz Initiative for Water Security. He has advised the German Bundestag’s Enquete Commission on Sustainable Energy Supply and contributed to international projects like the Jordan Water Project. His team includes over 20 researchers and students working on interdisciplinary environmental challenges.

Labs/Teams: He heads the Department of Economics at UFZ, collaborating with跨学科 teams on projects like the FUSE initiative (Food-Water-Energy for Urban Sustainability) and the Governance Monitor PhD cohort.