Maria Carvalho
Maria worked in the Policy team at the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change & Environment (GRI), focusing on energy and climate policies for the EU, along with North American policy engagement. She initially joined the GRI as a PhD student in 2010.
Background
Maria’s PhD was on “The internationalisation of green technologies and the realisation of green growth”. Her research investigates how different economies can realise opportunities for green growth from various industrial activities (such as innovation, manufacturing and markets) based on: the comparative advantages of the economy; the stage of development a particular technology; and the costs of trade. The research also considers how political economy factors affect ‘who collaborates with whom’ in the international research of green technologies. The findings seek to advance the competitiveness debate by recognising the tension between the shift of green industrial activities (particularly manufacturing, and the locational implications on innovation), and the associated green growth in domestic economies.
Prior to her PhD, Maria worked for New Energy Finance (later acquired by Bloomberg) for two years in the Carbon Markets team. She has also consulted during her PhD for the World Bank, the Overseas Development Institute, the UN Commission on Trade and Development, the GRI at the LSE, and UCL’s Green Economy Policy Commission.
Maria holds a PhD with the Geography and Environment Department at the LSE (2015), an MSc in Environmental Policy & Regulation (2007 with Distinction), and a BAH in Economics & Development at Queen’s University, Canada (2006).
Research interests
- Energy, climate and innovation policies, and impacts on low-carbon energy transitions
- International political economy of green industrial policies, and its effects on global value chains of green technologies
- Green growth and competitiveness
- Role of the private sector in green technologies, markets, and investments
Research
Research - 2018
Abstract Carbon taxes represent a cost‐effective way to steer the economy toward a greener future. In the real world, their... Read more
Policy
Policy - 2018
This special report for the LSE Growth Commission shows why it is sensible for environmental sustainability to be at the heart of the UK’s growth strategy and how this can be achieved, setting out recommendations for government across the areas of innovation, infrastructure, skills and cities. Read more
This submission was made to Defra’s consultation on environmental principles and governance after the UK leaves the European Union. Read more
This submission to the Scottish Affairs Committee focuses on the implications for the oil and gas industry in the UK, including Scotland, of the transition to low-carbon economic growth. It calls for the Government’s Industrial Strategy to reconcile its ambitions for the sector with the ‘Clean Growth’ Grand Challenge. Read more
Policy - 2017
Presentation for Brussels launch event, 05 December 2017 Read more
This report assesses the credibility of EU member states’ efforts to decarbonise the power sector – with credibility of policy commitments defined as ‘the likelihood that policymakers will keep their promises to implement the pledges or policies they announce’. Read more
This report investigates the extent to which current policies and institutional arrangements are fit for purpose for the new decarbonisation phase into which the EU is entering. It summarises the main findings from the Statkraft research programme. Read more
Taxing carbon is one of the best ways to incentivise the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions but is often faced with opposition. This report explores practical ways through which carbon taxes can be made more politically attractive. Read more
This paper was submitted in response to the UK Government’s industrial strategy green paper: ‘Building our industrial strategy‘. Read more
This policy brief outlines the opportunities and threats to trade in low-carbon goods and services in the UK. Read more
This submission to the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee’s inquiry on Leaving the EU looks at which aspects of EU policy should be retained and the potential impact of Brexit on Paris Agreement pledges. Read more
Policy - 2016
Presentation given at the LSE Conference ‘Britain and Europe: Towards Brexit?’ in Brussels on 8th December 2016. Read more
Presentation given at the Britain and Europe: Towards Brexit? LSE Workshop on 6 December 2016. Read more
This is a submission by the ESRC Centre for Climate Change Economics and Policy and the Grantham Research Institute on... Read more
Presentation to the British Institute of Energy Economics Conference in Oxford on 21 September 2016. Read more
Events
Events - 2016
News
News - 2017
City AM, 5 December 2017 Read more
The future of the UK’s trade with the EU and beyond is currently uncertain. What is certain is that the... Read more
The cost of climate change mitigation in the UK will increase without a free trade agreement in low-carbon equipment with the European Union say Maria Carvalho and Damien Dussaux in this commentary article. Read more
The UK has played an important role in shaping and advancing European action on climate change. Without it, other Member States will find themselves picking up the slack or the EU will miss its greenhouse gas target for 2030, write Maria Carvalho and Sam Fankhauser. Read more
News - 2015
World Economic Forum, 7 December Read more
Maria Carvalho writes that India can meet environmental targets and reduce poverty at the same time, but it must overcome significant hurdles to do so. Read more
