Daniel Gerdes

Daniel Gerdes is a Researcher at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), affiliated with the Department for Economics and Social Sciences and the Centre for Global Change and Sustainability. His work focuses on justice & equity in energy and mobility transitions, transdisciplinary research, and systemic modeling of sustainability challenges.

• MSc in Socio-Ecological Economics and Policy (2020, Vienna University of Economics and Business, passed with honors)
• BSc in Economics (2016, Vienna University of Economics and Business)
• BA in International Development Studies (2015, University of Vienna)

Current research involves participatory system-dynamic modeling for energy transitions in Austria's residential building sector. Past work includes ecological economics, agent-based modeling, and analysis of international trade's environmental impacts. His recent publications examine systemic impacts of low-carbon policies and barriers to energy transitions in housing sectors.

Projects include leading a national energy transition initiative (2024-2025) and contributing to a European Commission-funded study (2022-2025). He has presented at major conferences in Spain, the Netherlands, and Austria, including the International Sustainability Transitions Conference and the 10th International Degrowth Conference.

• 2024: Mentioned in Austrian media (topos.orf.at) regarding traditional apprenticeships as levers for green transitions
• 2022: Featured in German print media about systemic change

He organizes citizen forums for deliberative policy interventions in Innsbruck's energy transitions and applies transdisciplinary methods to address climate-growth-capitalism intersections.