Marcus Carson is a Senior Research Fellow and group leader for SEI-Stockholm's Climate group.

Marcus's research focuses on social change processes, with an emphasis on the social/political drivers and obstacles involved in developing policy responses to climate change. Key theoretical elements in his work include the roles of paradigmatic beliefs, institutional arrangements, and organizational networks in influencing policymaking and social change processes.

Over the past few years, he has focused on better understanding the nature of the drivers and obstacles that influence climate and energy policies in the US, Sweden, and in the European Union. With much of the important progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions currently being organized at the local scale where people live, work, consume and engage, Marcus is increasingly interested in efforts to bridge the "implementation gap"

His work has been supported by research funding from the Swedish Research Council, (Vetenskapsrådet), Sweden’s Research Council for Environment, Agricultural Sciences and Spatial Planning (Formas), Mistra’s Climate Policy Research Program (Clipore), European Union framework programs, and the European Environment Agency, among others.

Marcus brings a diverse background to his work, including hands-on experience with community organizing, policy analysis, political and labor organization, and work as a professional musician. Prior to coming to Sweden with his family, Marcus was involved for nearly 2 decades in social change and policy advocacy at the national, state and local level in the US. He received his PhD in Sociology in 2004 from Stockholm University, where he also earned his Associate Professorship in 2009.

Publications

• Energy for a Shared Development Agenda: Global Scenarios and Governance Implications (Research report - 2012)

• Long-term CAP Reform Options in an Ecosystems Perspective (Pre-publication) (Research report - 2012)

• Together Alone: BASIC countries and the climate change conundrum (Report - 2011)

• Paradigm Shift in US Climate Policy – But Where is the System Shift? (Book chapter - 2011)

• Tipping Point: Crossroads for US Climate Policy (Book chapter - 2010)

• Paradigms in Public Policy: Theory and Practice of Paradigm Shifts in the EU (Book - 2010)

• Washington Descends Deeper into Climate Gridlock, California and the States Creep Forward (Policy brief - 2010)

• Shifting ground: Brazil tackles climate change and deforestation, but rapid growth, energy needs undermine progress (Policy brief - 2010)

• Sea Change: US Climate Policy Prospects Under the Obama Administration (Report - 2009)

• Oceans Apart? Policy Reversals, Transatlantic Politics, and the EU Asbestos Ban (Book chapter - 2009)

Complete list of publications »

Projects

• MSB Climate and Gender

  
  

• SEI-FBDS Rio+20 Energy Assessment

  
  

• BASIC Study - Emerging economies and climate change: The new geopolitics after Copenhagen

  
  

• Arctic Resilience Report

  
  

• Emerging economies and climate change: The new geopolitics after Copenhagen