Catarina Heeckt

Catarina Heeckt serves as a Senior Policy Fellow at LSE Cities, London School of Economics, and Programme Lead for the European Cities Programme since 2022. Her work bridges urban governance, sustainable development, and environmental policy with a mission to accelerate climate-resilient and inclusive cities through evidence-based policy translation.

Her educational background includes:

• MSc in Environmental Policy and Regulation from the London School of Economics
• BA in Political Science and International Development from McGill University

Research focuses on interdisciplinary qualitative analysis of sustainable urban mobility within post-growth frameworks, emphasizing urban accessibility, transport-housing integration, and environmental transition drivers. Methodologies prioritize participatory stakeholder engagement through workshops, interviews, and surveys to address European urban challenges.

Project leadership spans the Coalition for Urban Transitions (2016-2021), Economics of Green Cities programme, and New Urban Agenda coordination at Habitat III. Collaborations include UN-Habitat, OECD, European Environment Agency, C40, and governments across 12 countries, targeting municipal finance innovation and compact city development.

As co-director of LSE Cities' European Cities Programme, she drives capacity-building initiatives analyzing political dynamics like the 2024 green backlash in European urban politics through cross-sectoral partnerships with public, private, and third-sector entities globally.