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The Journey to a PhD

I was fortunate to undertake some conservation work in Ecuador before university. During my undergrad at the University of Birmingham, I then recruited some volunteers to travel to Ecuador to support rainforest protection initiatives. While visiting, I met the manager of a travel agency working with indigenous communities, which proved life changing.

Shortly after my Master’s degree, I got a call out of the blue. The manager, Jascivan Carvalho, said that they needed a new resident manager of the Huaorani Ecolodge.* Despite having no relevant work experience, I immediately agreed. This community-based ecotourism project was an opportunity for communities to resist oil companies and earn an income, whilst protecting their land and cultural integrity.

After my year-long stint in the Amazon, I became a research fellow at Brown University. Professor Timmons Roberts, who I had previously discussed climate politics in Latin America with, hired me to establish a research project on these issues. Along with Dave Ciplet, we created the Climate and Development Lab. This led to some publications, including a book which Timmons and I co-authored: A Fragmented Continent: Latin America and the Global Politics of Climate Change.

Following this wonderful period, I started a job at the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) in Washington D.C. I worked as a senior consultant in the Climate Change and Fiscal Management Divisions, supporting efforts to produce and share knowledge to help shape the Bank’s lending and technical assistance.

While I loved my time in the U.S., I felt frustrated at the glacial pace of global climate action. I was particularly interested in gaining a deeper understanding of current barriers and limitations. My interest in taking a more critical look at the power dynamics between different actors involved in climate and energy politics, led me to my PhD supervisor, Professor Peter Newell.

The Research

My PhD project explores how different actors in government, industry and business are contesting and shaping Colombia’s just energy transition.** It’s a lively topic since the Colombian government has ambitious plans to shift the country’s economy away from oil and coal exports and to decarbonise the power sector. It faces many challenges, such as worsening climate impacts and stiff opposition from fossil fuel incumbents.

Colombia is particularly dependent on fossil fuels, so it’s a tricky situation. The energy and mining sectors accounts for around 7 percent of GDP, meaning a just energy transition must avoid destabilising the economy.

During my fieldwork in Colombia, I had the opportunity to interview some fascinating people. I spoke to various actors, from former ministers and industry lobbyists to activists and lawmakers, who were keen to talk given the polarised nature of the energy transition. 

Guatape, Colombia

As the energy transition is such a contested space, there are rival perspectives and policy ideas. This is partially due to there being many uncertainties in terms of technological shifts and geopolitical upheavals, which make planning and implementation complex. One thing does seem certain though: Colombia’s energy transition will be decided primarily by global factors, such as the external demand for its coal and oil exports. Consequently, delaying a transition could prove more costly than starting to orchestrate a gradual and just process this decade.

As international attention grows on these issues, my research will shed light on the complex domestic politics and how some energy transitions work in practice. As a large fossil fuel exporter, Colombia is an outlier for its climate and energy agenda and represents a fascinating case to understand the actors involved and strategies used to contest and shape narratives and policies.

Undertaking a PhD has been a big adjustment! As my previous job at the IDB was rather fast paced, returning to academia was challenging. Academic work can sometimes feel lonely and futile, but chatting with my fellow PGRs and my supervisors really helps. 

Achievements and the Future

I’m a co-founder of the Latin America and Caribbean Research Network at Sussex. We are working to foster a critical research culture of members to harness the University’s research and pedagogy to generate knowledge to help build an inclusive and sustainable future for the LAC region.

Being a Hive Scholar is a privilege. Sussex’s research community is doing some great things and it’s exciting to help cultivate a supportive environment for PGRs. I also just completed my time on the Student Sustainability Committee, working on campaigns to encourage the University to sever its ties with the fossil fuel industry.

I’m particularly motivated by the concept of ‘scholar-activism’. For me, it essentially means trying to be useful in terms of leveraging my research to support different actors in attempting to bring about positive social and environmental change.

Guy Edwards, Credit Carlos Sarquis

Alongside my studies, I am contributing to some research groups and policy discussions. As part of the Climate Social Science Network, I am working on an article, book chapter and policy brief on climate obstruction in Latin America. Last year, I presented a related paper at the International Political Science Association’s Congress. I’m also helping out a bit on my supervisor’s project on supply-side climate policies.  Lastly, I had the opportunity to do some writing for the Global Studies blog, Foreign Policy and Climate Home.  

As my research project develops, it’s exciting to participate in some events. I presented my initial findings to events organized by the Natural Resource Governance Institute, the Universidad del Rosario and at the IDB. I also participated in a forum on energy transitions in the Colombian city of Valledupar, which was enlightening. Last month, I was delighted to present some work at the Real Instituto Elcano, a think tank in Madrid, and the CICERO Center for International Climate Research in Oslo, where I received great feedback.

These were great experiences and it’s exciting to be working with colleagues doing some amazing research on climate and energy politics at Sussex and beyond.  

* The Huaorani are an indigenous people in Ecuador.

 **There is no agreed definition of what a just energy transition is but essentially it refers to a just and inclusive shift away from fossil fuels towards a decarbonised economy.

Interview by Shona Clements