Paul Ekins has a Ph.D. in economics from the University of London and is Professor of Resources and Environmental Policy, Director of the UCL Institute for Sustainable Resources, and Director of Research at the School of Sustainable Resources and Energy at University College London. He is also a Co-Director of the UK Energy Research Centre, in charge of its Energy Systems theme and also leads UCL’s involvement in large research consortia on Hydrogen and Bioenergy
He is a member of the Expert Panel of the UK National Ecosystem Assessment, and from 2002-2008 he was a Member of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution. He is Vice-Chairman of the European Environment Commissioner’s Expert Economists’ Group on Resource Efficiency, and a member of the European Commission’s high-level European Resource Efficiency Platform. He also has extensive experience consulting for business, government and international organisations. In 2012-13, Paul Ekins is also the Chair of the UCL Green Economy Policy Commission.
Paul Ekins’ academic work focuses on the conditions and policies for achieving an environmentally sustainable economy. He is the author of numerous papers, book chapters and articles in a wide range of journals, and has written or edited a number of books. In 1994 Paul Ekins received a Global 500 Award ‘for outstanding environmental achievement’ from the United Nations Environment Programme.
Paul Ekins was Executive Director of the Right Livelihood Foundation from 1987-1990 and has been a member of the Board since 1995.