James Patterson

Dr. James Patterson is an Assistant Professor at Utrecht University's Faculty of Geosciences, specializing in Environmental Governance. His interdisciplinary research bridges sustainability, public policy, and comparative politics, focusing on institutional dynamics in climate governance.

• European Research Council Principal Investigator (2021-2026) for the BACKLASH project
• Scientific Steering Committee member of the Earth System Governance Project (2019-present)

Research areas:

• Climate policy backlash mechanisms
• Institutional adaptation to climate change
• Urban sustainability transformations
• Political feasibility of 1.5°C pathways

Publications (2021-2025) examine contentious climate politics, institutional remaking, and polycentric governance systems across 25+ peer-reviewed outlets including Nature Sustainability and PNAS.

Teaching: Coordinates Earth System Governance track in Utrecht's Sustainable Development Master's program and teaches courses on research design, sustainable land use, and urban governance.