Manu V. Mathai

Director – Research, Data & Impact

Manu V. Mathai is the Director – Research, Data & Impact at WRI India. His focus is to strengthen the Institute’s research culture, systematize knowledge creation and deepen links between research and real-world outcomes. Toward this end, he mentors and works with WRI India’s program teams on research strategy, design, and publications.

Prior to joining WRI, Manu was an Associate Professor in the School of Development at Azim Premji University. He taught courses in the MA Development program and was part of teams that developed, taught, and administered the university’s early online and mid-career courses including, Exploring Sustainability in the Indian Context, the PG Diploma in Development Leadership and the Certificate Course in Development and Social Change in India. He has also held faculty positions at Rochester Institute of Technology, the United Nations University Institute of Advanced Studies and is currently a visiting faculty at Azim Premji University.

Manu’s research focuses on the political economy of Development as expressed in energy infrastructure choices and its implications for finding justice in human well-being outcomes, on a shared and finite planet. His publications include Nuclear Power, Economic Development Discourse and the Environment: The Case of India (Routledge, 2013), the co-edited volume Green Growth: Ideology, Political Economy and the Alternatives (Zed Books, 2016) as well as journal articles, book chapters and articles for a general audience.

Manu earned a PhD in Energy and Environmental Policy from the University of Delaware. He also holds a Master of Public Policy from the University of Maryland, an M.Sc. in Wildlife Science from the Wildlife Institute of India, and a B.Sc. in Environmental Science from St. Joseph’s College, Bangalore.

He was born and raised in Bangalore, where he lives with his family.

External Publications

Book

^{Mathai, M. V. (2013). Nuclear Power, Economic Development Discourse and the Environment: The Case of India (First ed.). Routledge.}^{https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203100141}

Journal Special Issue

^{Mathai, M. V., Lorek, S., Sachs, W., eds. (2023). From an ethic of sufficiency to its policy and practice in late capitalism. Lausanne: Frontiers Media SA. Doi: 10.3389/978-2-8325-4068-8}

Edited Book

^{Dale, G., Mathai, M.V., & Puppim de Oliveira, J.A. (Eds.). (2016). Green Growth: Ideology, Political Economy and the Alternatives. London: Zed Books Ltd.}^{http://dx.doi.org/10.5040/9781350220553}

Journal Articles

^{Mathai, M. V., Sachs, W. and Lorek S. (2023) Editorial: From an ethic of sufficiency to its policy and practice in late capitalism. Front. Sustain. 4:1324319. doi: 10.3389/frsus.2023.1324319}

^{Martin, M.A., … Zhao, Z.J. (2022). Ten new insights in climate science 2022. Global Sustainability, 5, E20. 10.1017/sus.2022.17}

^{Mathai, M. V. and Stevis, D. (2022) [Book Review] Degrowth in Movement(s): Exploring Pathways for Transformation, Review of Radical Political Economics.}^{https://doi.org/10.1177/04866134211045140}

^{Mathai, M. V., Isenhour, C., Stevis, D., Vergragt, P., Bengtsson, M., Lorek, S., Mortensen, L. F., Coscieme, L., Scott, D., Waheed, A., & Alfredsson, A. (2021). The Political Economy of (Un)Sustainable Production and Consumption: A Multidisciplinary Synthesis for Research and Action. Resources, Conservation & Recycling.}^{https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2020.105265}

^{Mathai, M. V., Puppim de Oliveira, J., & Dale, G. (2018). The Rise and Flaws of Green Growth. APN Science Bulletin, 8(1).}^{https://doi.org/10.30852/sb.2018.359}

^{Mathai, M. V. & Narayan, P. S. (2017). The Paris Climate Change Agreement and After. Current Science, 112(6), 1099 – 1100.}^{https://www.currentscience.ac.in/Volumes/112/06/1099.pdf}

^{Mathai, M. V. & Kartikasari, K. (2015). Institutional Framework for Low-Carbon Urban Infrastructure Investment: Some Evidence and Lessons from DKI Jakarta, Indonesia, Journal of Comparative Asian Development, 14(2), 319 – 349.}^{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15339114.2015.1059056}

^{Gasparatos, A., von Maltitz G.P., Johnson, F.X., Lee, L., Mathai, M., Puppim de Oliveira, J.A., & Willis, K.J. (2015). Biofuels in sub-Sahara Africa: Drivers, impacts and priority policy areas. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 45, 879 – 901.}^{https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2015.02.006}

^{Ahmad, S., Mathai, M. V. & Parayil, G. (2014). Household Electricity Access, Availability and Human Well-being: Evidence from India. Energy Policy, 69, 308 – 315.}^{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2014.02.004}

^{Gasparatos, A., Lee, L., von Maltitz, G., Mathai, M.V., de Oliveira, J. A. P., Johnson, F. X., & Willis, K. J. (2013). International and the National Policy Interventions for Catalyzing Biofuel Sustainability in Sub-Sahara Africa. Environmental Policy and Law, 43(4−5), 216 – 221.}^{https://environmentalpolicyandlaw.com/categories-energy-article2}

^{Mathai, M.V. (2009). Elements of an Alternative to Nuclear Power as a Response to the Energy-Environment Crisis in India: Development as Freedom and a Sustainable Energy Utility. Bulletin of Science, Technology and Society, 29(2), 139 – 150.}^{https://doi.org/10.1177%2F0270467608331185}

Book Chapters

^{Mathai, M. V. (2018). Approaching Sufficiency in the Global South. In Leida Rijnhout and Riccardo Mastini (Eds.), Sufficiency: Moving Beyond the Gospel of Eco-Efficiency. Brussels: Friends of the Earth Europe.}^{https://www.foeeurope.org/sites/default/files/resource_use/2018/foee_sufficiency_booklet.pdf}

^{Dale, G., Mathai, M.V., & Puppim de Oliveira, J.A. (2016). Introduction. In Dale, G., Mathai, M.V., & Puppim de Oliveira, J.A. (Eds.) Green Growth: Ideology, Political Economy and the Alternatives. London: Zed Books.}

^{Mathai, M.V. (2012). Towards a Sustainable Synergy: End-Use Energy Planning, Development as Freedom, Inclusive Institutions and Democratic Technics. In Ilse Oosterlaken and Jeroen van den Hoven (Eds.). The Capability Approach, Technology and Design. Philosophy of Engineering and Technology Book Series. (Vol. 5, pp 87 – 112). Dordrecht: Springer.}^{https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9789400738782#aboutAuthors}

^{Mathai, M.V., & Parayil, G. (2012). Toward Equity and Sustainability in the “Green Economy.” In Jose A. Puppim de Oliveira (Ed.). Green Economy and Good Governance for Sustainable Development: Opportunities, Promises and Concerns, Tokyo: UNU Press.}^{http://collections.unu.edu/view/UNU:1538#viewMetadata}

Working papers

^{Mathai, M. V. (2022). Lessons from Dharnai, “India’s First Fully Solar Powered Village”: A Case Study. Working Paper Series, No. 24, Azim Premji University.}^{https://azimpremjiuniversity.edu.in/publications/2022/working-paper-series/lessons-from-dharnai-indias-first-fully-solar-powered-village-a-case-study}

^{Mathai, M. V. & Parayil, G. (2018). The Persistent Nucleus: Atoms, Power and Energy Policy Discourse in the Anthropocene. Working Paper Series, No. 12. Azim Premji University.}^{http://dx.doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.16112.89602}

^{Alfredsson, E., Bengtsson, M., Brown, H., Foxon, T., Isenhour, C., Lorek, S., Mallee, H., Mathai, M. V., Mortenson, F., Rijnhout, L., Stevis, D., Waheed, A., Vergragt, P. [in alphabetical order] (2018). The Political Economy of Sustainable Consumption and Production.}^{https://sscp.futureearth.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2020/06/Political-Economy-WG-scoping-paper-final-draft.pdf}

Conference papers

^{Mathai, M. V. (2021). Knowing Sufficiency. Session Title: Will a Sustainability Transition Be Sufficient? Sustainability Research & Innovation 2021. Brisbane.}

^{Mathai, M. V and Isenhour, C. (2020). The Political Economy of (Un)Sustainable Production-Consumption Systems. Sustainable Consumption & Social Justice in an Urbanizing World. Sustainable Consumption Research & Action Initiative Virtual Conference.}

^{Mathai, M. V. (2018). Effecting Alternative Development: Imagination and Practice. The Third International Symposium on Development and Governance in the BRICS. Sao Paulo.}

^{Mathai, M. V. (2018). “Sustainable Structures of Living Together” for Imagining Degrowth in Energy Policy. First North-South Conference on Degrowth. Mexico City.}

^{Mathai, M.V. & Parayil, G. (2014). Power, Nuclear Power and the Environment: Normative and Policy Dilemmas Confronting South Asia and Beyond. Center for South Asian Studies, University of Hawaii.}

^{Mathai, M.V., Parayil, G., & Suwa, A. (2013). A Framework for Developing Governance Indicators for a Low Carbon Societies Context in Asia: Transition or Continuity? Semi-plenary II, Earth System Governance Tokyo Conference. United Nations University, Tokyo.}

^{Jani, O., Byrne, J., Mathai, M. V., Kumar, A., & Buch, V. (2009). A Sustainable Photovoltaic Roadmap and Policy Initiative for Gujarat, India. 18th International Photovoltaic Science and Engineering Conference and Exhibition, Kolkata, India.}

^{Scoltes, F., & Mathai, M.V. (2005). The Capability Approach as a Response to the Environment-Development Crisis. Human Development and Capability Association (HDCA) Strategy Workshop, University of Maryland, College Park.}

^{Mathai, M.V. (2004). Exploring Freedom in a Global Ecology: Sen’s Capability Approach as a Response to the Development-Environment Crisis. 4th International Conference on the Capability Approach: Enhancing Human Security, University of Pavia.}

^{Mathai, M.V. (2003). Case Studies: Observations on Operationalizing Sen’s Capability Approach. 3rd Conference on the Capability Approach: From Sustainable Development to Sustainable Freedom, University of Pavia.}

Reports

^{Future Earth, The Earth League, WCRP (2022). 10 New Insights in Climate Science 2022. Zenodo.}^{https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7228926}

^{Chandran, R., Chong, N.S.T., Doll, C.N.H., Lee, L.Y., Mathai, M.V., Nguyen, K. and Parayil, G. (2013). Bytes Beyond Borders: Strengthening Transboundary Information Sharing on Wildlife Crime through the Wildlife Enforcement Monitoring System (WEMS) Initiative. Policy Brief (pp. 8). United Nations University Institute of Advanced Studies.}

^{Gasparatos, A., Lee, Y. L., von Maltitz, G. P., Mathai, M. V., Puppim de Oliveira, J. A., & Willis, K. J. (2012). Biofuels in Africa: Impacts on Ecosystem Services, Biodiversity and Human Well-being. United Nations University Institute of Advanced Studies.}

^{Byrne, J., Kurdgelashvilli, K., Mathai, M.V., Kumar, K., Yu, J M, Zhang, X., Tian, J., Rickerson, W. (2010). World Solar Energy Review: Technology, Markets and Policies. Newark, DE: Center for Energy and Environmental Policy, University of Delaware.}

^{Roe, A., Mathai, M.V., Boekhold, van B., Kasper, D., & Kuholski, K. (2008−2009). Knowledge of Power – Energy Education Series. Center for Energy and Environmental Policy, Newark, DE. [A set of four presentations, a workbook and a board game, covering energy basics, efficiency and conservation.]}

^{Roe, A., Mathai, M.V., Byrne, J., Lake, K., & Gunter, B. (2006). UHELP Responds to Community Health and Environmental Needs. Newark, DE: Center for Energy and Environmental Policy, University of Delaware.}

^{Prepared by Center for Energy and Environmental Policy (CEEP). (2005). Cooperation in Sustainable Energy Technology Development: U.S. Activities in South and Southeast Asia. Country-by-Country Reports.}

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