Pete Barbrook-Johnson

Pete Barbrook-Johnson is a Senior Research Associate and Departmental Research Lecturer in the Economics of Environmental Change at the University of Oxford. He holds appointments at both the Environmental Change Institute (ECI) and the Smith School for Enterprise and the Environment (SSEE), within the School of Geography and the Environment. Barbrook-Johnson serves as Deputy Director of the NERC-funded Agile Initiative and Technical Modelling Lead for the UK government EEIST project on new economic modeling of energy innovation and transition.

His research interests focus on applying complexity science and systems thinking to environmental, energy, and public health challenges. He regularly employs agent-based modeling and systems mapping methodologies in his work. His research spans climate policy analysis, energy transition modeling, sustainable development, and the application of complexity economics to real-world policy challenges. His work often involves international collaboration, particularly with researchers from Brazil, China, and India.

Barbrook-Johnson's recent publications demonstrate a strong trend toward integrating systems thinking with economic modeling for environmental policy. His work bridges the gap between complex systems science and practical policy application, with a particular emphasis on making economic models more responsive to the needs of policymakers. The publications span multiple disciplines including environmental economics, energy systems, climate policy, and complexity science.

His notable scientific contributions include:

• His book on systems mapping, co-authored with Dr. Alexandra Penn
• Development of a library of new economic modeling case studies
• Leading production of a major international report on new economic modeling approaches for energy transition
• Contributing to the development of sensitive intervention points as a strategic approach to climate action

Barbrook-Johnson has received recognition through the ESRC Innovation Fellowship and leads significant research initiatives including the Agile Initiative. His work demonstrates strong engagement with policy communities and international research collaborations. He also teaches undergraduate and masters courses focused on the economics of environmental change and the application of complexity sciences to environmental issues.

He maintains affiliations with multiple research centers including the Institute for New Economic Thinking at Oxford, St Catherine's College, the Centre for the Evaluation of Complexity Across the Nexus (CECAN), and as a Visiting Fellow at the Centre for Research in Social Simulation (CRESS) at the University of Surrey.