Sandeep Pai

Sandeep Pai serves as a Research Fellow at the University of British Columbia's Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability (IRES), while also holding a position as Senior Research Lead with the Energy Security and Climate Change program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). He completed his PhD in Resources, Environment, and Sustainability at UBC in 2021 under the supervision of Hisham Zerriffi, and holds additional academic credentials including a joint MSc in Environmental Sciences, Policy, and Management from Lund University, Central European University, and the University of the Aegean, as well as a BTech in Computer Science from Cochin University of Science and Technology.

His research program focuses on the political economy of energy transitions, with particular expertise in coal sector dynamics, energy access, and just transitions. Pai's work spans multiple geographic regions including India, South Africa, and the United States, examining how coal-dependent communities navigate socioeconomic and environmental changes during energy transitions.

Pai's publication record demonstrates consistent scholarly output with a focus on practical policy implications of energy transitions. His work consistently addresses the intersection of energy policy, socioeconomic factors, and environmental sustainability, with particular attention to creating equitable transition pathways for vulnerable communities. The thematic consistency across his publications shows a deepening specialization in just transition frameworks and their implementation across different national contexts.

• Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism award (2016) for investigative reporting on corruption in state-owned enterprises

Prior to his academic career, Pai worked as an investigative journalist for Indian newspapers including the Hindustan Times, where he covered rural development, energy transition, and political corruption in India and South Asia. He is the author of 'Total Transition: The Human Side of the Renewable Energy Revolution' (2018) and frequently contributes to major media outlets including The Guardian, Times of India, and CNN. His research collaborations include partnerships with institutions such as the University of Cape Town, Downstream Strategies, and various policy organizations working on energy transition issues globally.