Mdt Fellowship: Green Finance

The work undertaken by James Hutton Group is at the top of the global agenda tackling problems such as the impact of climate change and threats to food and water security.

We are recruiting within our Social Economic & Geographical Sciences department for a tenure-track Senior Researcher in Green Finance, for a 3-year fellowship funded by the Macaulay Development Trust. This person will analyse the burgeoning initiatives for nature-based investments in Scotland and the UK, critically appraising the consequences for society and nature.

**Main Purpose of Job**

Across the world, but particularly in Scotland and the UK, there is great interest in ‘Green Finance’ and nature-based investments i.e. structured financial activities and instruments that are motivated by achieving one or more pro-environmental outcomes from land and natural resource management. However, there are concerns about the consequences of these activities, especially in terms of whether and how they support sustainable management of land and natural resources for multiple benefits, and their consequences for a fair and just society. Scotland is already witnessing changes in land ownership and management relating to green finance, often focused on managing for carbon, but potentially also biodiversity or other ecosystem services. There is thus an urgent need to understand and influence investments so they support a Just Transition, as reflected in the Scottish Government’s Interim Principles for Responsible Investment in Natural Capital.

This post represents an opportunity to develop new critical insights on green finance. It has been created to respond to the need for more careful scholarship on green finance, to inform evolving debates, policy and practices for sustainable land and natural resource use. The postholder will evaluate the development of new green finance initiatives, appraise the potential consequences for society and nature, and identify implications for future policy responses. The post is located within the interdisciplinary SEGS department - which includes sociologists, anthropologists, geographers, psychologists, and economists. The postholder will also be encouraged to link with those working on nature conservation, land and catchment management in other departments, especially Ecological Sciences and Environmental & Biochemical Sciences.

The postholder will be expected to contribute to, and expand the range of expertise offered by SEGS, as well as develop their own contributions. The fellowship is independent work, but we expect the postholder to integrate themselves into our collegiate and supportive department, and to actively mentor and support others. Examples of current work within SEGS and other departments include projects focusing on ‘green lairds’, multifunctional land use, natural capital, and nature-based solutions. Our research reflects a range of theoretical perspectives using a variety of methods, but always reflects a strong commitment to informing and supporting change beyond academia.

**Main duties of post holder**

The aims of this fellowship are: (1) to identify potential financial mechanisms that may enable delivery of multiple benefits in Scotland; (2) to appraise their distributional outcomes and consequences for equity and justice; and (3) to identify implications for policy-making and regulatory frameworks. The fellowship will also identify strategic areas for future impact e.g. financing beyond carbon markets, and lead associated funding proposals which will provide an ongoing foundation for research in this area. The fellow will be expected to design and implement their own approach to answering these questions, offering empirical, conceptual and practical contributions. The main duties of the postholder are:

- To design and implement a 3-year fellowship project on the topic of green finance, which encompasses all aspects of research, from design, data collection, data analysis through to sharing results.
- To lead conceptual or theoretical advances related to the role of green finance in environmental governance.
- To lead high quality academic publications in reputable peer reviewed journals.
- To maintain and develop relationships with relevant stakeholders in academic policy, private and other sectors, supported by strong oral and written communication skills.
- To lead proposals for external funding, and over time build a portfolio of income generation.
- To contribute to the work of the SEGS Department and the James Hutton Institute, including line managing and mentor colleagues where appropriate.

**Essential**

**Desirable**

PhD or equivalent experience in relevant discipline (e.g., political economy, political ecology, ecological economics, human geography, sociology, environmental finance, organisational studies, law etc.)

Established academic reputation and expertise on topics relating to green finance; with a desire to develop insights on delivering multiple benefi