Jared J. Finnegan

Jared J. Finnegan is a Lecturer (Assistant Professor) in Public Policy at University College London's Department of Political Science and serves as Director of the MSc in Climate Change Policy and Politics. His research focuses on climate change and energy policy across high-income democracies, examining how governments, voters, and businesses understand and address long-term policy challenges.

Dr. Finnegan's academic background includes:

• PhD in Political Science from LSE
• MRes in Political Science from LSE
• MSc in Philosophy and Public Policy from LSE
• BA in Latin American and Latino Studies and Sociology from UC Santa Cruz

His research interests center on the political economy of climate change policy, examining institutional barriers to long-term policymaking, the role of business interests in climate policy opposition, and the comparative analysis of energy transitions. His work investigates how political institutions shape climate governance, the impact of strategic climate legislation like the UK Climate Change Act, and the political feasibility of carbon pricing mechanisms.

Analysis of his publication record reveals a consistent focus on institutional approaches to understanding climate policy. His recent work (2021-2025) has increasingly examined the role of financial institutions, particularly central banks, in addressing climate risks, while maintaining his core interest in comparative energy transitions and the political economy of decarbonization. His research spans theoretical institutional analysis and practical policy evaluation, with strong connections to real-world climate governance mechanisms.

Dr. Finnegan has published in top journals including The Journal of Politics, Comparative Political Studies, Science, Nature Energy, Socio-Economic Review, and Climate Policy. His work contributes to Sustainable Development Goals 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and 13 (Climate Action).

Prior to joining UCL, he held postdoctoral positions at UC Berkeley and Princeton University and was a Visiting Fellow at the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment at LSE. Before his doctoral studies, he worked as a Research Analyst at the World Resources Institute in Washington, DC, focusing on climate policy design and evaluation, particularly measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) systems.