Paula Kivimaa

Background

About Paula Kivimaa

I am an expert in sustainability transitions, focusing on the role of the public sector and governance in advancing transitions to a zero-carbon society. My expertise ranges from environmental sustainability to innovation policy and security. I have analysed public policies on climate, energy, buildings, transport, innovation and security. During 2019-2024, I examined connections between national security, defence and energy policies in the context of the energy transition in Finland, Estonia, Norway and the UK. From 2025, I will continue working on energy security and transitions, but also will work on transformative innovation policy in the context of geopolitics and security. I have experience in developing qualitative research methods, esp. related to policy evaluation and innovation studies and in project management, acting as a PI in several research projects. My academic contributions inc. 70 journal articles, e.g. in Research Policy, Nature Climate Change, Environmental Innovation & Societal Transitions, Energy Policy, Energy Research & Social Science, Science and Public Policy, Climate Policy, Futures, Environmental Policy and Governance, Journal of Transport Geography, a sole-authored book 'Security in Sustainable Energy Transitions'(2024) and a co-edited book 'Innovating Climate Governance: Moving Beyond Experiments'(2018) published by Cambridge University Press. I have contributed to policy reports and papers published by the OECD, the European Commission, and the Nordic Council of Ministers. From January 2020, I have been a member of the Finnish Climate Change Panel, and during 2021-2023 a member of the scientific expert group for Smart Specialisation for Sustainability / Partnerships for Regional Innovation of the European Commission and JRC. Currently, I co-chair an EASAC working group on "Security of Sustainable Energy Supplies", I am a member of an expert group on Fair and Sustainable Economy by JRC, and an advisor in the European Commission DG Grow Fellowship Programme. Specialities: energy and climate policy analysis security and geopolitics of energy transition innovation and technology policy research sustainability transitions policy evaluation intermediaries policy experiments energy and transport building energy efficiency