Sam Fankhauser

Sam Fankhauser is a Visiting Professor at the University of Oxford, affiliated with the Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment and the School of Geography and the Environment. He serves as Research Director of Oxford Net Zero and is a Fellow of Reuben College. Previously, he was Director (2017–2021) and Co-Director (2011–2017) of the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment. His research focuses on climate change economics, policy, and adaptation, with an emphasis on the interplay between climate action and development.

Key affiliations include leadership roles in the Place-based Climate Action Network (PCAN), a UK-funded research initiative, and the ESRC Centre for Climate Change Economics and Policy (CCCEP). His work spans climate legislation, carbon pricing, and adaptation strategies, with contributions to global climate policy frameworks like the Paris Agreement and the UK Climate Change Act.

Recent research highlights include analyses of place-based climate action, the relationship between national and corporate net-zero targets, and the economic implications of climate policy. He has authored/co-authored influential books such as Sustainability Economics (2019) and The Economics of Climate-Resilient Development (2016). His policy contributions include advising governments on carbon pricing, climate finance, and sustainable recovery from the pandemic.

Notable collaborations involve institutions like the World Bank, CDC Group, and the Climate Change Committee (UK). He has spearheaded initiatives to strengthen climate governance, including evaluations of the UK Climate Change Act’s effectiveness and strategies for decarbonizing the EU economy. His work emphasizes bridging climate policy with socio-economic development, particularly in vulnerable regions like semi-arid lands.