Karen Pittel

Prof. Dr. Karen Pittel is a Professor of Economics, specializing in Energy, Climate, and Exhaustible Natural Resources, at the Faculty of Economics, University of Munich. She is the Director of the ifo Center for Energy, Climate, and Resources, a leading research center in applied economics. Her work integrates economic theory with policy analysis to address pressing global challenges in sustainability and climate change.

• Academic Affiliation: Faculty of Economics, University of Munich
• Research Leadership: Director, ifo Center for Energy, Climate, and Resources
• Policy Engagement: Co-Chair, WBGU; Deputy Chair, Science Platform Climate Protection 2050

Karen Pittel holds a Ph.D. (Dr. rer. pol.) from Chemnitz University of Technology (2000, summa cum laude) and completed her habilitation at ETH Zürich (2010). Her research bridges theoretical and applied economics, with a strong focus on environmental and resource economics. She has made significant contributions to understanding climate policy design, international cooperation mechanisms, carbon pricing, and the macroeconomic implications of energy transitions. Her work often explores the interplay between technological change, sustainability, and long-term growth.

The 15 most recent publications highlight a consistent focus on climate and energy policy, particularly in the European and German context. Key themes include carbon pricing, climate adaptation, energy security, carbon management (CCS/CCU/CDR), and the integration of environmental and economic goals. Her interdisciplinary collaborations span natural sciences, engineering, and public health, reflecting the complexity of sustainability challenges. The publications appear in policy reports, academic journals, and edited volumes, demonstrating her dual impact on scholarly discourse and real-world policy design.

• Prize for outstanding success in the management of contract studies (2017)

Karen Pittel has advised numerous governmental and international bodies through her leadership roles. She has led major research projects funded by German federal ministries and the EU, covering topics such as fossil resource markets, decentralized energy systems, and climate resilience. She has supervised or co-supervised various research fellows and students, though specific names are not listed in the provided text. Her editorial roles include associate editorships and board memberships in leading journals such as Environment and Development Economics and Review of Environmental Economics and Policy.

She leads and participates in several interdisciplinary research groups and policy advisory bodies, including the ifo Center for Energy, Climate, and Resources, the German Advisory Council on Global Change (WBGU), and the Science Platform Climate Protection 2050. These teams work on integrated assessments of climate policy, energy system modeling, and sustainability transitions, often producing high-impact policy recommendations.