XClose

UCL Institute for Sustainable Resources

Menu

Research

Our mission is to provide evidence, expertise and training to respond to climate change and support sustainable transitions for people and planet. Our interdisciplinary teams carry out innovative research on energy, finance, sustainable economies, innovation and human-ecosystem interactions. 

Discover the research across the following themes:

Rise in gasoline prices concept with double exposure of digital screen with financial chart graphs and oil pumps on a field.

Energy systems, policies and markets

We investigate the most promising methods of not only accommodating but accelerating the generation, distribution and use of more sustainable fuels within existing and future systems.

View from above of a park with a circular lawn in the middle

Sustainable, circular, resource-efficient economies and societies

We aim to develop the evidence base and analytical capability to enable systemic change towards resource efficiency and the circular economy.

dashboard of an electric car with the battery icon in orange

Innovation for sustainability transitions

Our innovation research spans climate, energy and circular economy, exploring new technologies and practices required for sustainable transitions.

The city of London

Financing the low carbon transition

The sustainability transition requires a system-wide structural change towards low-carbon processes backed by an unprecedented mobilisation of financial resources. We research the role of finance in transitioning to low carbon economies globally.

elephant grass

Human-ecosystem interactions and sustainability

Our research on nature and sustainable resource use focuses on the concepts of natural capital and ecosystem services, environmental sustainability of land use, novel indicators of biodiversity and strong environmental sustainability, and sustainable and healthy food systems.

Birds sitting on wires with a blue sky

Improving energy access and resource use in the developing world

Our research focuses on improving energy access and resource use in lower income countries, and places the interlinked challenges of economic development, climate change and environmental degradation, and social equity at its core.

Research methods

We employ a wide range of qualitative and quantitative methods in our research. We host three research groups that focus on economic methods across our research projects and themes:

money plant

Macro-economic modelling

Our research studies the inter-linkages between the economy and the environment, focussing on the use and management of scarce resources and assessing the impacts of resource and environmental policies on the economy.

aerial view of allotments Econometric Assessment

Econometric assessment focuses on the modelling and evaluation of natural resources, including food and energy. We cover a wide range of topics such as climate change, crop yield, trade, energy demand and energy efficiency, food systems, commodity markets, biodiversity and models for road traffic.

River running through a deep valley in Norway Behavioural environmental economics

Behavioural environmental economics is a methodological group that brings together staff and students who apply behavioural economics theories and techniques to promote sustainable and environmentally friendly behaviours and choices. 

Project directory 

Through our research we tackle some of the fundamental sustainability issues facing society. You can explore our project directory to discover the array of past and present research projects undertaken by the Institute. 

field of solar panels

Explore our project directory