Ira Poensgen

Ira Poensgen serves as a Policy Fellow at the Centre for Economic Transition Expertise (CETEx) within the Grantham Research Institute at the London School of Economics (LSE). Her research critically examines how monetary and financial policy mechanisms can redirect private investment flows toward net-zero transitions and climate resilience, with specialized expertise in private sector transition planning frameworks.

Education

• MPhil in Environmental Policy, University of Cambridge
• MSc in International Political Economy, London School of Economics (LSE)
• BSc in International Business and Politics, Copenhagen Business School (CBS)

Research Focus

Poensgen's scholarship bridges financial regulation and climate action through three interconnected pillars: (1) Designing regulatory frameworks for corporate transition plans, (2) Analyzing climate litigation risks within banking systems, and (3) Integrating prudential policy with net-zero objectives. Her work emphasizes practical implementation challenges in aligning financial sector practices with Paris Agreement goals, particularly examining disclosure requirements and risk management protocols for institutions navigating the low-carbon transition.

Publication Trends

Her 2024-2025 publications reveal escalating policy influence in UK climate governance, with increasing focus on mandatory transition planning frameworks and financial stability implications. Key trajectories include the operationalization of the TPT Disclosure Framework, quantification of litigation risks from fossil fuel financing, and strategic alignment of industrial policy with climate targets. Her research consistently targets regulatory gaps where financial supervision intersects with climate accountability.

Professional Engagement

• Technical Lead & Interim Team Lead, Transition Plan Taskforce Secretariat
• Deputy Group Policy Lead, Oxford Sustainable Finance Group
• Deputy Head of Policy, Centre for Greening Finance and Investment (CGFI)

Research Infrastructure

Poensgen operates within CETEx's interdisciplinary ecosystem at LSE's Grantham Research Institute, collaborating with financial regulators, central banks, and industry stakeholders. Her prior leadership in the Transition Plan Taskforce established foundational frameworks now influencing UK government consultations, demonstrating direct policy-to-practice translation through multi-stakeholder coalitions spanning banking institutions, corporate entities, and supervisory authorities.