Dr. Clare Richardson-Barlow

Profile

Dr. Richardson-Barlow is an interdisciplinary social scientist whose research and teaching explores just transitions, energy policy, political economy, and energy governance. Dr. Richardson-Barlow has over 10 years' experience researching and working as a political economist with a focus on energy transitions and climate compatible development in the Asia-Pacific, Europe, and North America.  Most recently Dr. Richardson-Barlow was awarded a British Academy grant for exploring just energy transitions in the Asia-Pacific, with a focus on distributed energy systems in ASEAN. 

Prior to joining the University of Leeds Dr. Richardson-Barlow worked for many years at internationally focused policy research organisations in Washington, D.C., including the National Bureau of Asian Research (NBR) and the Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS). As Assistant Director for Trade, Economic & Energy Affairs at NBR Dr. Richardson-Barlow oversaw a global network of authors & contributors and managed contracts and projects focused on bridging the gap between energy consumption and economic development. Dr. Richardson-Barlow currently serves as a Non-Resident Fellow for NBR where she provides expertise related to energy policy, energy transitions, and the political economy of decarbonisation. She is also a RESI Affiliate for the Resilient and Sustainable Islands Initiative at the Overseas Development Institute. 

Dr. Richardson-Barlow has contributed to four book publications and multiple policy briefs, reports and articles written on energy and trade topics. She regularly works with international research organisations to provide expertise at the intersection of climate, development, and energy policy. In this capacity she frequently engages with government and media on cross-sector issues related to global energy transitions and has been featured in The Economist, The Wallstreet Journal, and The Diplomat, among other publications.  

Responsibilities

• Lecturer, East Asian Studies
• Committee Member, Climate Plan Research Partnership Committee
• Co-Investigator, Business Models for Decarbonisation, CO2RE UK Greenhouse Gas Removal Hub

Research interests

Dr. Richardson-Barlow’s research interests bring together just transitions, industrial decarbonisation, and climate compatible development, with a geographical focus on the Asia-Pacific, UK, and North America.

Current & Past Research Projects

• Co-investigator at CO2RE, the UK Greenhouse Gas Removal Hub, where she researches business models for carbon removal. This includes examining innovative business models for energy transitions and the value chains and value pools most relevant to development of the UK’s greenhouse gas removal (Current)
• Primary Investigator, British Academy funded grant “Just Energy Transitions in the Asia-Pacific”, examining distributed energy systems and energy justice in Southeast Asia and among Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states (2021-2022)
• Research Fellow, Centre for Research into Energy Demand Solutions (CREDS), Steel industry decarbonisation (2021-2022)
• Research Fellow, Yorkshire Circular (Economy) Living Lab, University of Leeds (2020-2021)

Qualifications

• PhD in sustainability research and East Asian studies from the University of Leeds
• MA in International Development and Public Policy from Tsinghua University in Beijing, China
• BA in Politics and Chinese from Pacific University in Oregon, USA
• PCertificate, Development Project Management, Middlebury Institute of International Studies
• Professional Certificate, Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy in Baku, Azerbaijan

Professional memberships

• UK Higher Education Academy (UKHEA)
• The Association of Southeast Asian Studies (ASEAS UK)
• Resilient and Sustainable Islands Initiative, ODI (UK)

Student education

Dr. Richardson-Barlow teaches in East Asian Studies on regional political economy topics. This includes: EAST 3271, East Asia’s Regional Political Economy; EAST 3703, Southeast Asia in its Global Context; EAST 1450, Foundations in East Asia; EAST2605, Topics in Contemporary Asia-Pacific Societies; and EAST1010 & EAST 1020, Chinese Language (Aurals).

Dr. Richardson-Barlow also supervises undergraduate final year projects in East Asian Studies and is an Academic Personal Tutor in the School of Languages, Cultures & Societies.

Research groups and institutes

• Asia Pacific Studies
• Chinese
• East Asian Studies
• Environmental Humanities Research Group