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We are pleased to share the first Earth System Governance newsletter of 2026 in a new format - shorter, clearer, and easier to read.
Exciting news - we have surpassed 700 members and welcomed a record 103 new members in 2025.
The review process for the 2026 Bath Conference on Earth System Governance is now underway, and we thank all those who volunteered their time and expertise. We are also glad to announce that this year's Mentoring Initiative is up and running, this time including 23 mentors and 38 mentees, of which 16 are newly joined early career research fellows. As always, if you have anything to share with the network - don't hesitate to contact us at: ipo@earthsystemgovernance.org |
Institutions and organizations are invited to co-host the 2026 Bath Conference on Earth System Governance. A limited number of co-hosting opportunities remain for partners interested in contributing to and supporting one of the leading global conferences in the field.
For expressions of interest, please contact Conference chair Yixian Sun.
Further details →
| New Special Issue: Is Goal-setting an Effective Strategy for Global Sustainability Governance? | With only a few years remaining until 2030 and many Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) off track, a new Special Issue in the Earth System Governance Journal critically examines the effectiveness of goal-setting as a mode of global sustainability governance. Edited by SDG Taskforce co-conveners Assoc. Prof. Thomas Hickmann, Asst. Prof. Carole-Anne Sénit, and Assoc. Prof. Yixian Sun, the Special Issue brings together seven studies that explore how, and under what conditions, the SDGs shape sustainability transitions across diverse political and institutional contexts. Explore the special issue → | Newly affiliated project ClimBio Frontiers examines how transnational governance initiatives address the interconnected challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, and social justice. The project is funded by the Independent Research Fund of Denmark and led by Prof. Michele Betsill, University of Copenhagen. Learn more
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| | | Research Centre Bath has renewed its Memorandum of Understanding with the ESG Project, reaffirming its role in convening interdisciplinary sustainability governance research across the University and beyond. The centre is coordinated by Dr. Yixian Sun. This year in September, it will host the annual ESG conference. Learn more
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We welcome Assoc. Prof. Varun Mohan as the new coordinator of the South–South Initiative. Based at REVA University, Bengaluru, he specialises in global environmental gover-nance and Global South perspectives, with a strong commitment to advancing South–South exchange and elevating Global South scholarship within the ESG community. Learn more →
| | | Leadership change in the Taskforce on Climate Govern-ance. We thank former co-conveners Prof. Frank Bier-mann, Prof. Chuks Okereke, and Assoc. Prof. Kyla Tienhaara for their contributions and inspiring leadership. The initiative is now convened by Asst. Prof. Sean Low, Dr. Valeria Zambianchi, and Dr. Kennedy Mbeva, and coordinated by Milena Niesen. Learn more → | | | Research Fellow Publications |
Allen, C., Malekpour, S., Weitz, N., Bennich, T., Pedercini, M., Sagar, A., Griggs, D., Raven, R., Sun, Y., Pradhan, P., Sénit, C.-A., Stevance, A.-S., Leininger, J., Lafortune, G., Llanos, A.O., Onoda, S., Fernando, G., Lechner, A.M., Mohan, A.V., Guan, T., Tahl, K., Anthony, C. and Nilsson, M. (2026). A theory of change approach to enhance the post-2030 sustainable development agenda. Science. -
Harlan, T., Sun, Y., Lu, J., DiCarlo, J., Goron, C., Li, Y., Liao, J.C., Mao, K., Rodenbiker, J., Seligsohn, D., Wang, A., Weins, N. and Zhu, A.L. (2025). China Aspires to be an Environmental Leader: How Should the Rest of the World Engage? Journal of Current Chinese Affairs.
Orr, C.J., Deneault, A., Chan, S. and O’Garra, T. (2025). Scaling city climate action requires closing North-South research divides and interventions tailored to regional contexts. npj Climate Action.
Tsioumani, E., & Rabitz, F. (2025). The De-Legalization of Novel Biotechnology Governance under the Convention on Biological Diversity. Transnational Environmental Law.
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- PhD student in Political Science, Stockholm University, Sweden
- PhD student in Political Science, Power and Polarisation in Swedish Forestry, Lund University, Sweden
- PhD students, Embracing Transformation Programme, Leuphana University of Lüneburg, Germany
- PhD scholarships, Global Methane Politics, University of Leeds, UK
- PhD candidate, Centre for Climate and Energy Transformation, Bergen University, Norway
- Post Doctoral Researcher, Coastal Hazards, Economic prosperity, and Resilience, University of Delaware, USA
- Postdoctoral Research Associate, Community-led Conservation and Governance, University of Miami, USA
- Open Postdoctoral position, Community-led Conservation and Governance, Stanford University, USA
- SCALES Postdoctoral Fellows Program, Duke University, USA
- Postdoctoral position, Centre for Climate and Energy Transformation, Bergen University, Norway
- Research Fellowships in Global Methane Politics, University of Leeds, UK
- Fellow in Political Science, Politics and Governance of the Green Transition, University of Southern Denmark
- Assistant Professor in Political Science, Ecological Transitions in/of Europe and the EU, Sciences Po, France
- Faculty positions in Political Science and International Relations, Middle East Technical University, Cyprus
- Canada Impact+ Research Chairs in Climate-related Disasters and Community Resilience, University of Manitoba
- Network Coordinator, Transformations Community & Inland Ocean Coalition, remote
- Call for Papers, Green Trade Lab Workshop, Embedding Trade within Planetary Boundaries, University of Basel, Switzerland
- Summer School, Hope and Resilience in Ecomotion-Sensitive Climate Change Education, Utrecht University, the Netherlands
| Dr. Nikola Adamovska, Palacky University | | | | Terhemba Ambe-Uva, University of Ottawa | | | | Assoc. Prof. Chow Ming Fai, Monash University Malaysia | | | | Dr. Jens Ergon, Uppsala University | | | | Asst. Prof. Justin Joseph, VIT Chennai | | |
Larissa Ferreira Lima, UNESP/ UNICAMP/PUC-SP | | | | Dr. Oskar Lindgren, Uppsala University | | | |
Carya Maharja, University of Plymouth | | | |
Benedikte Raft, University of Copenhagen | | | |
Ajith Raj, Memorial University of Newfoundland | | | |
Chloé Taillandier, Open Universiteit | | | |
Frida Öhman, Uppsala University | | | |
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