Michele Merill Betsill

What do you research?

I am an interdisciplinary environmental social scientist whose research focuses on global environmental politics and governance. My research seeks to understand the diverse roles of non-state and sub-national actors in shaping collective responses to complex problems such as climate change and biodiversity loss from the global to the local level. I am particularly interested in whether and how these actors and their initiatives can catalyze transformative changes for a more sustainable future. I recently completed a 6-year project on philanthropic foundations as agents of marine conservation governance. My current research explores how global networks of non-state and sub-national actors are shaping 1) the intersection between urban resilience, climate mitigation, and equity in cities and 2) efforts to address climate change and biodiversity as interlinked problems.

Why is it so important?

Over the past 20 years, non-state and sub-national actors have become increasingly active in addressing global environmental issues. In some cases, they fill gaps when national governments have been unable to address these issues. They sometimes work alongside national governments in developing and implementing rules for limiting harmful activities and helping to extend governance into economic sectors that cut across multiple political jurisdictions. Some transnational actors challenge dominant approaches to global environmental governance, either by trying to block regulation or pushing for more radical change to address the underlying drivers of environmental degradation. Some see these actors as contributing to a more comprehensive and effective global response to environmental problems, while others raise questions about their democratic accountability, legitimacy and authority.

A project you are proud of?

Our current project, the Ocean Philanthropy Research Initiative, is an ambitious transdisciplinary initiative where we have worked closely with foundation staff and marine conservation practitioners to help build a field of science on conservation philanthropy that contributes practical knowledge to advance effective, equitable, and enduring conservation globally. We have deployed a knowledge co-production approach throughout the project. Through these ongoing and close interactions with foundations and practitioners, we are opening conversations about new ways of doing environmental philanthropy and empowering grantees and communities to have a stronger voice in setting conservation priorities.

Updated August 2024

Through her participation in the Mary Centre’s Policy Fellowship, Michele has among others worked with Niels Lund, Vice President for Global Prevention and Health Promotion, Novo Nordisk, Sigrid Bjerre Andersen, Political Advisor at Globalt Fokus (Policy Fellowship 2022-23 – Green Transition), given an inspirational talk to all policy fellows working with the green transition, and worked with Emilie Hvidtfeldt, Director of Climate Action Engagement and the C40 Copenhagen office (Policy Fellowship 2023-24 – Green Transition).