Amelia Sharman
Former Research student
Amelia’s PhD topic explored decision-making by public policymakers in relation to climate change. She is especially interested in the role that climate scepticism plays in shaping public policy debates and decisions over climate change.
Amelia is the recipient of an LSE PhD scholarship and is supervised by Dr Richard Perkins.
Background
Amelia has a Master of Science (MSc) (Distinction) in Nature, Society and Environmental Policy from the University of Oxford, in addition to a Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Master of Arts (MA) (Hons) in Geography from the University of Auckland.
Amelia has worked as a Senior Policy Advisor at the New Zealand Ministry of Economic Development and as a Sustainability Specialist for the International Hydropower Association.
Research interests
- Climate scepticism;
- Evidence-based policy;
- Uncertainty and controversy in political decision-making.
Climate stories: Why do climate scientists and sceptical voices participate in the climate debate?
Public perceptions of the climate debate predominantly frame the key actors as climate scientists versus sceptical voices; however, it is unclear why climate scientists and sceptical voices choose to participate … read more »
2015
The impact of controversy on the production of scientific knowledge
Much of the existing literature employing the framework of controversy focuses on the science-policy interface. However a clear gap exists regarding the way(s) in which controversy may fundamentally shape the … read more »
Climate stories: why do climate scientists and sceptical voices participate in the climate debate?
This paper explores the polarised debate between climate scientists and sceptical voices. It concludes that focusing on overlapping rationales, such as a sense of duty to publicly engage and recognition that political factors are a key topic of disagreement, as well as encouraging individuals to think critically about their own beliefs, may help to encourage constructive discussion and reduce polarisation. read more »
Labeling opinions in the climate debate: a critical review
This paper critically reviews the literature on climate opinion labels, and the efforts taken within an academic context to categorize differences, create new taxonomies of more detailed sub‐labels, or create or argue for the use of new labels such as denier or contrarian. read more »
2014
Mapping the climate sceptical blogosphere
Global Environmental Change, 26: 159-170
2013
Mapping the climate sceptical blogosphere
While mainstream scientific knowledge production has been extensively examined in the academic literature, comparatively little is known about alternative networks of scientific knowledge production. Online sources … read more »
2010
Evidence-based policy or policy-based evidence gathering? Biofuels, the EU and the 10% target
The 2009 Renewable Energy Directive mandates European Union member-states’ road transport fuel to comprise a minimum of 10% renewable content by 2020. This target is expected to be met … read more »
The Global Climate Legislation Study - 2016 update
The Climate Legislation Study covers over 850 national laws and policies directly related to climate change mitigation and adaptation. Launched in 2010 covering only 16 countries, the study currently covers 99 jurisdictions, which, taken together, produce 93 per cent of global emissions and are home to 90 per cent of the world’s forests. The database includes 46 of the world’s top 50 emitters. read more »
How to make the climate change debate more productive
The climate change debate is a battle of attrition with a habit of getting nasty. Both sides in the debate (climate scientists and those that are sceptical of the science) … read more »
2015
Deniers vs alarmists? It’s time to lose the climate debate labels
Removing antagonistic labels from debates about climae change could enable more constructive discussion about specific issues of disagreement. read more »
2013
Climate Change and Cocktails
Speakers: Included David Stainforth, Naomi Hicks, Maria Carvalho, Amelia Sharman, David Wilson and Murray Collins Climate change experts from the Grantham Research Institute at the LSE and at Imperial College … read more »
