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Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê Department of Geography

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Martina Fisk

Research Title

The Genealogy of Carbon Accounting

More about Martina

I am a shared PhD candidate at Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê Geography and Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê STS (Science and Technology Studies). My research interests concern how scientific knowledge on environmental problems is produced and used in policy decision making. For my PhD project I investigate the history of carbon accounting which is the calculation of CO2 emissions caused by nation states, companies, households, products, etc.


Academic Background

  • PhD Candidate in Human Geography, University College London, since 2017
  • MScÌýScience and Technology Studies, University College London, 2015-2016
  • MAÌýClimate & Society, Columbia University, New York City, 2012-2014
  • BScÌýGeographical Sciences, Freie Universität Berlin, 2007-2012

Professional Experience

  • Research Fellow at Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change, Berlin (Working Group ‘Assessments & Scientific Policy Advice’), 2010-2011
  • Intern at German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Berlin (Division for International Climate Policy), 2012

Further Activities

  • Co-ChairÌýÏã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê Environment Domain Early-career Network ()
  • Member of Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê Carbon Accountability Working Group
Teaching

I teach on the following modules:Ìý

Undergraduate

Research Interests

My PhD project is a historical analysis of carbon accounting in the UK and Germany. The aim is to compare the historical, political, and practical factors that influenced the development and legitimisation of CO2 measuring methodologies in these countries. I am further investigating how carbon accounting on different societal levels is interrelated, with a particular focus on national greenhouse gas inventories, corporate carbon disclosure, and online carbon calculators. Conceptually, the project is based on an interdisciplinary approach that combines ideas from the field of science studies (STS) on the role of measuring for modern governance with ideas from Human Geography on scale and national context.

Carbon accounting is an essential tool for governing climate change as it underlies all climate related policy decision making and analysis. My research helps us to better understand how it emerged in its present form and the role it plays in measuring progress in the fight against climate change.

Funding

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