Carolyn Fischer

Carolyn Fischer is a prominent environmental economist with joint appointments as Professor of Environmental Economics at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and as Canada 150 Research Chairholder in Climate Economics, Innovation and Policy at the University of Ottawa. She serves as Full Professor in the School of Business and Economics, specifically in the Spatial Economics department at VU Amsterdam. Additionally, she holds several prestigious affiliations including as a senior fellow with Resources for the Future (RFF) and the European Institute of Environmental Economics (EIEE), a Tinbergen Institute affiliate, and a fellow of the CESifo Research Network.

Dr. Fischer earned her Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Michigan—Ann Arbor in 1997. Prior to her academic career, she served as a staff economist at the Council of Economic Advisers to the President of the United States during 1994-1995.

Professor Fischer's research focuses on environmental policy instrument design, applying microeconomic theory and modeling techniques to address critical environmental and resource management issues. Her work spans climate and renewable energy policies, carbon leakage mechanisms, technological innovation incentives, eco-certification systems, and wildlife conservation strategies. She has made significant contributions to understanding carbon pricing mechanisms, emissions trading systems, and international climate policy coordination.

Her recent publication portfolio demonstrates a strong focus on carbon pricing mechanisms and climate policy design. Fischer's work examines the economic implications of border carbon adjustments, analyzes U.S. carbon pricing approaches, and investigates global gas market responses to methane reduction policies. Her research consistently bridges theoretical economic models with practical policy applications, addressing some of the most pressing climate challenges of our time.

Among her notable recognitions are the Canada 150 Research Chair in Climate Economics, Innovation and Policy awarded in 2018 and her fellowship as an EU Marie Skłodowska–Curie Fellow from 2014-2016. Fischer also served as the Marks Visiting Professor at Gothenburg University from 2017-2018.

Professor Fischer has extensive service to the academic community, currently serving as Council Member for the European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists (EAERE) and previously serving on the board of directors of the Association of Environmental and Resource Economists (AERE). She is co-editor of Environmental and Resource Economics and serves on the editorial boards of the Review of Environmental Economics and Policy and the International Review of Environmental and Resource Economics. Fischer also serves on expert advisory boards for several prominent organizations including the Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change (MCC–Berlin), the Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change (CMCC), Economics for Energy, and Environmental Defense Fund (EDF).

Her work significantly contributes to multiple United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those related to climate action and responsible consumption and production. Through her research and policy engagement, Fischer continues to shape environmental economic thinking and climate policy implementation worldwide.