Sebastian Renner

Dr. Sebastian Renner is an Associate at the GIGA Institute for African Affairs and a Research Fellow at the Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change (since 2020). He previously led the 'Sustainable Development' research team (2018–2020) and held roles at the GIGA Institute for Asian Studies and Latin American Studies. He is affiliated with the University of Göttingen’s Collaborative Research Centre 990 and serves as a World Bank consultant since 2012. His research focuses on environmental and development economics, particularly poverty reduction in low-carbon economic development. He holds a PhD (summa cum laude) from Georg-August-Universität Göttingen and a Master’s in Economics from Freie Universität Berlin and UC San Diego.

Research interests include climate policy, globalization impacts, and the intersection of poverty reduction with decarbonization. Key projects include the CliMiP initiative analyzing climate mitigation in Mexico, South Africa, and Thailand. His work bridges economic analysis with global development challenges, emphasizing policy-relevant solutions for sustainable development.

Publications span peer-reviewed journals like Environmental Research Letters and Energy Economics, focusing on energy taxation, carbon pricing, and sustainable agriculture. He has presented at GIGA seminars and international forums on topics such as carbon pricing in Indonesia and post-Paris Agreement climate strategies.

His academic contributions are supported by interdisciplinary collaborations, including with institutions like the Volkswagen Foundation and the University of Göttingen. He advises on global commons governance and has participated in high-profile discussions on climate policy in developing nations.