Isabela Butnar

Dr. Isabela Butnar is a Lecturer in Environmental Policy and Principal Research Fellow at University College London's Bartlett School of Environment, Energy & Resources. She serves as Deputy Research Director and leads the GGR Evaluation Framework at the CO2RE Hub. Previously, she worked as a Sustainability Scientist at Unilever for five years and as a Research Manager at Rovira i Virgili University in Spain.

Education:

• PhD in Chemical Engineering, Rovira i Virgili University, Spain (2003-2007)
• MSc in Interface Process Engineering, Rovira i Virgili University, Spain (2001-2003)
• MSc in Interface Process Engineering, Babes-Bolyai University, Romania (2000-2001)
• BSc, Babes-Bolyai University, Romania (1995-2000)

Dr. Butnar is an environmental sustainability scientist with expertise in Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) and Energy System modeling. Her current research focuses on three key areas: developing decision-making tools for GHG emissions reduction with local authorities, creating decision-support tools for sustainable Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) scale-up, and improving open-source Integrated Assessment Models. She co-developed a waste emissions calculator with Cambridgeshire County Council now used by UK local authorities.

Her publication record demonstrates significant contributions to understanding Carbon Dioxide Removal interventions, bioenergy systems, and life cycle assessment methodologies. Her recent work shows a strong focus on practical applications of LCA to evaluate carbon removal technologies, sustainable bioenergy systems, and decarbonization pathways across multiple sectors including transportation, hydrogen economy, and food systems.

Scientific Awards:

• UCL Sustainability Research Award (2024)

Dr. Butnar currently co-supervises five PhD students working on net zero greenhouse gas emissions interventions. She teaches a Continuing Professional Development course on Life Cycle Assessment and delivers guest lectures for BSEER master degrees. She serves as Coordinator of the Life Cycle Assessment – Monitoring Reporting and Verification GGR-D Programme working group, facilitating collaboration between the CO2RE Hub and GGR-D Demonstrators.

She actively contributes to policy development through responses to government consultations on greenhouse gas removals, biomass strategy, and energy policy, demonstrating her commitment to translating research into practical solutions for climate change mitigation.