Espen Moe

Espen Moe is a Professor of Political Science at NTNU's Department of Sociology and Political Science, part of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Education. He holds a PhD from UCLA and has held visiting positions at Alpen-Adria Universität (Vienna), Beijing Normal University, and Kwansei Gakuin University (Japan). As NTNU Sustainability's research leader for climate mitigation and adaptation, his work focuses on energy policy, political economy, and structural economic change.

His research emphasizes renewable energy transitions, fossil fuel dependencies, and the political dynamics shaping long-term economic development. Key themes include analyzing vested interests in energy systems, global leadership through technological governance, and the interplay between environmental policy and economic growth.

Publications span journals like Energy, Energy Policy, and Global Environmental Politics, with notable works including Renewable Energy Transformation or Fossil Fuel Backlash (2015) and Governance, Growth and Global Leadership (2007). His work often examines case studies from Japan, China, Norway, and Denmark to explore national responses to energy challenges.

Moe's academic contributions bridge theory and policy, addressing critical questions about sustainable development, climate governance, and the socio-political barriers to decarbonization. He is actively involved in international collaborations and interdisciplinary sustainability initiatives at NTNU.