Prof. Dr. Paula Mónica Castro Pareja

Work at ZHAW

Position

Professor for Energy and the Environment

Focus

• Climate policy and politics
• Environmental politics
• Multilateral negotiations
• Climate change mitigation
• Carbon markets
• Empirical research methods
• Network analysis
• Quantitative text analysis

Teaching

• Economics for BSc Business Law, ZHAW (Tutorial sessions)
• Business in the Climate Crisis, ZHAW (Elective module)
• CAS Climate Strategies, ZHAW
• International Climate Policy, University of Zurich (MA Seminar)

Experience

• Research associate
  Zurich University of Applied Sciences
  08 / 2020 - 02 / 2024
• Senior research associate
  Department of Political Science, University of Zurich
  03 / 2017 - 07 / 2020
• Postdoctoral fellow
  Centre for Global Cooperation Research, University of Duisburg-Essen
  03 / 2016 - 02 / 2017
• Senior research associate
  Department of Political Science, University of Zurich
  11 / 2013 - 01 / 2016
• Research and teaching assistant and post-doctoral researcher
  Department of Political Science, University of Zurich
  12 / 2007 - 10 / 2013
• Environmental consultant
  ATEC Peru
  07 / 2003 - 12 / 2007
• Consultant on biofuels
  NGO Practical Action (Peru)
  11 / 2006 - 11 / 2007
• Research and teaching assistant
  Faculty of Agricultural Engineering, National Agrarian University La Molina (Peru)
  07 / 2003 - 09 / 2005

Education and Continuing education

Education

• PhD / Political Science
  University of Zurich, Department of Political Science
  01 / 2008 - 10 / 2013
• M.Sc. / Environment and Development
  University of Reading (UK)
  10 / 2005 - 12 / 2006
• B.Sc. / Environmental engineering
  National Agrarian University La Molina (Peru)
  03 / 1998 - 12 / 2002

Continuing Education

CAS Higher & Professional Education
Zurich University of Applied Sciences
12 / 2022

Network

Membership of networks

• European Consortium for Political Research (ECPR)
• Swiss Political Science Association (SPSA)
• European International Studies Association (EISA)

ORCID digital identifier

ORCID ID: 0000-0002-5818-301X

Projects

• Beyond Coalitions: Small States in Climate Negotiations / Co-project leader / ongoing
• Co-Evolution and Coordinated Simulation of the Swiss Energy System and Swiss Society (SWEET COSI) / Team member / ongoing
• Renewable Fuels and Chemicals for Switzerland / Deputy project leader / ongoing
• DEcarbonisation of Cities and Regions with Renewable GAses (DeCIRRA) / Team member / ongoing
• Meta-Study on Local Climate Action and NDCs / Project leader / completed
• What international negotiators promise and domestic policymakers adopt / Team member / completed

Publications

• Baker, Jack; Kammerer, Marlene; Castro, Paula; Ingold, Karin,

  2025.

  The vertical policy harmonization indices : assessing the gap between climate mitigation pledges and policies.

  Climate Policy.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.1080/14693062.2024.2443482

• Castro, Paula; Kammerer, Marlene; Michaelowa, Axel,

  2024.

  How does polycentric engagement relate to countries’ NDC ambition and mitigation policy effort?.

  Global Environmental Politics.

  24(3), pp. 48-74.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.1162/glep_a_00751

• Klöck, Carola; Castro, Paula; Chin-Yee, Simon; Gurresø, Clara; Desmasures, Charlotte; Bouly, Elsa; Carrillo Risi, Diana; De Pryck, Kari,

  2024.

  Beyond AOSIS : small island states’ presence and participation at COP27.

  Climate and Development.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.1080/17565529.2023.2298780

• Castro Pareja, Paula Mónica; Kammerer, Marlene,

  2021.

  The institutionalization of a cleavage : how differential treatment affects state behavior in the climate negotiations.

  International Studies Quarterly.

  65(3), pp. 683-698.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.1093/isq/sqab045

• Castro Pareja, Paula Mónica,

  2020.

  National interests and coalition positions on climate change : a text-based analysis.

  International Political Science Review.

  42(1), pp. 95-113.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.1177/0192512120953530

• Castro, Paula,

  2020.

  Past and future of burden sharing in the climate regime : positions and ambition from a top-down to a bottom-up governance system.

  International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics.

  20(1), pp. 41-60.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10784-019-09465-4

• Pauw, W. P.; Castro, P.; Pickering, J.; Bhasin, S.,

  2019.

  Conditional nationally determined contributions in the Paris Agreement : foothold for equity or Achilles heel?.

  Climate Policy.

  20(4), pp. 468-484.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.1080/14693062.2019.1635874

• Betz, Regina; Michaelowa, Axel; Castro, Paula; Kotsch, Raphaela; Mehling, Michael; Michaelowa, Katharina; Baranzini, Andrea,

  2022.

  The carbon market challenge : preventing abuse through effective governance.

  Cambridge:

  Cambridge University Press.

  Elements in Earth System Governance.

  ISBN 978-1-009-21647-0.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009216500

• Weiler, Florian; Castro Pareja, Paula Mónica,

  2020.

  "Necessity has made us allies" : the role of coalitions in the climate change negotiations.

  In:

  Klöck, Carola; Castro Pareja, Paula Mónica; Weiler, Florian; Blaxekjær, Lau Øfjord, eds.,

  Coalitions in the Climate Change Negotiations.

  Oxon:

  Routledge.

  pp. 35-52.

• Castro Pareja, Paula Mónica; Klöck, Carola,

  2020.

  Fragmentation in the climate change negotiations : taking stock of the evolving coalition dynamics.

  In:

  Klöck, Carola; Castro Pareja, Paula Mónica; Weiler, Florian; Blaxekjær, Lau Øfjord, eds.,

  Coalitions in the Climate Change Negotiations.

  Oxon:

  Routledge.

  pp. 17-34.

• Castro Pareja, Paula Mónica; Chaianong, Aksornchan,

  2023.

  NDC transparency meta-study.

  Winterthur:

  ZHAW Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-30163

Publications before appointment at the ZHAW

• Peer-reviewed articles
• Castro, Paula, 2020. Past and future of burden sharing in the climate regime: Positions and ambition from a top-down to a bottom-up governance system. International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, 20: 41–60.
• Pauw, Pieter; Castro, Paula; Pickering, Jonathan; Bhasin, Shikha, 2020. Conditional nationally determined contributions in the Paris Agreement: Foothold for equity or Achilles heel? Climate Policy, 20(4): 468–484.
• Castro, Paula, 2016. Common but differentiated responsibilities beyond the nation state: How is differential treatment addressed in transnational climate governance initiatives? Transnational Environmental Law, 5(2): 379–400.
• Castro, Paula; Hörnlein, Lena; Michaelowa, Katharina, 2014. Constructed peer groups and path dependence in international organizations: The case of the international climate change negotiations. Global Environmental Change, 25: 109–120.
• Stadelmann, Martin; Castro, Paula, 2014. Climate policy innovation in the South - domestic and international determinants of renewable energy policies in developing and emerging countries. Global Environmental Change, 29: 413–423.
• Betzold, Carola; Castro, Paula; Weiler, Florian, 2012. AOSIS in the UNFCCC negotiations: from unity to fragmentation? Climate Policy 12(5): 591–613.
• Castro, Paula, 2012. Does the CDM discourage emission reduction targets in advanced developing countries? Climate Policy 12(2): 198–218.
• Castro, Paula; Michaelowa, Axel, 2011. Would preferential access measures be sufficient to overcome current barriers to CDM projects in Least Developed Countries? Climate and Development 3: 123–142.
• Castro, Paula; Michaelowa, Axel, 2010. The impact of discounting emission credits on the competitiveness of different CDM host countries. Ecological Economics 70: 34–42.
• Calle, Jose; Coello, Javier; Castro, Paula, 2005. Options for biodiesel production in Peru. Mosaico Científico 2(2): 70–77.
• Books
• Castro, Paula, 2014. Climate change mitigation in developing countries: A critical assessment of the Clean Development Mechanism. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar.
• Castro, Paula, 2010. Governance in combating desertification in Peru: The case of Apurimac Region. Saarbrücken, Germany: Lambert Academic Publishing.
• Acosta, Fernando; Castro, Paula; Cortijo, Elsa, 2008. Manual de construcción y uso de reactor para producción de biodiesel a pequeña escala (Handbook for building and using a reactor for small-scale biodiesel production). Lima: Soluciones Prácticas.
• Castro, Paula; Coello, Javier; Castillo, Liliana, 2007. Opciones para la producción y uso de biodiesel en el Perú (Options for biodiesel production and use in Peru). Lima: Soluciones Prácticas.
• Sueiro, Juan Carlos; Cornejo, Astrid; Castro, Paula, 2005. La zona costera peruana: recursos, usos y gestión (The Peruvian coastal zone: resources, uses and management). Lima: CooperAcción.
• Book chapters
• Andonova, Liliana; Castro, Paula; Chelminski, Kathryn, 2018. Transferring technologies: The polycentric governance of clean energy technology. In: Andrew Jordan, David Huitema, Harro van Asselt and Johanna Forster (eds.), Governing Climate Change: Polycentricity in Action? Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, pp. 266–284.
• Zahno, Martina; Castro, Paula, 2017. Renewable energy deployment at the interplay between support policies and fossil fuel subsidies. In: Stefan E. Weishaar, Larry Kreiser, Janet E. Milne, Hope Ashiabor and Michael Mehling (eds.), The Green Market Transition: Carbon Taxes, Energy Subsidies and Smart Instrument Mixes, Volume XIX of Series Critical Issues in Environmental Taxation. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar, pp. 97–112.
• Buen Jørund; Castro, Paula, 2012. How Brazil and China have financed industry development and energy security initiatives that support mitigation objectives. In: Axel Michaelowa (ed.), Carbon Markets or Climate Finance: Low Carbon and Adaptation Investment Choices for the Developing World. London: Routledge, pp. 53–91.
• Friberg, Lars; Castro, Paula, 2009. Análise empírica do desempenho de projetos MDL: Estudo de caso Brasil. In: Markus Brose (ed.), O pagamento por serviços ambientais - O mercado de carbono promove a inclusão social? Goiânia, Brazil: Care Brasil, Editora da Universidade Católica de Goiás, pp. 123–147.
• Reports and policy papers
• Klöck, Carola; Castro, Paula, 2018. Coalitions in global climate change negotiations. Policy Brief No. 5, Innovations in Climate Governance (INOGOV).
• Castro, Paula; Betzold, Carola, 2016. Climate finance after the Paris Agreement. New directions or more of the same? Global Governance Spotlight 3/2016. Bonn, Germany: Development and Peace Foundation.
• Cames, Martin; Healy, Sean; Harthan, Ralph; Castro, Paula; Michaelowa, Axel; Hayashi, Daisuke; Dransfeld, Björn; Butzengeiger, Sonja, 2013. Design of the post-2012 climate regime: Sectoral approaches for greenhouse gas mitigation. Final Report for the German Federal Environment Agency. Berlin, Zurich, Hamburg: Öko-Institut, University of Zurich, Perspectives Climate Change.
• Michaelowa, Axel; Castro, Paula; Bagchi, Chandreyee, 2013. Report on stakeholder mapping: Multi-level interaction of climate policy stakeholders in the run-up to the 2015 agreement. Research Report. Brussels: EU FP7 Project POLIMP (Mobilizing and transferring knowledge on post-2012 climate policy implications).
• Castro, Paula; Duwe, Matthias; Köhler, Michel; Zelljadt, Elizabeth, 2012. Market-based mechanisms in a post 2012 climate change regime. Summary Report for the German Federal Environment Agency. Hamburg, Berlin, Zurich: Perspectives Climate Change, Ecologic Institute, University of Zurich.
• Castro, Paula; Hayashi, Daisuke; Harthan, Ralph; Cames, Martin; Michaelowa, Axel, 2012. Setting baselines for the new market mechanism: Examples from the power, cement and buildings sectors. Öko-Institut Discussion Paper.

• Castro, Paula; Hayashi, Daisuke; Kristiansen, Kjell Olav; Michaelowa, Axel; Stadelmann, Martin, 2011. Linking RE Promotion Policies with International Carbon Trade (LINK) - Scoping study for IEA- RETD.
• Castro, Paula; Hayashi, Daisuke; Stadelmann, Martin; Michaelowa, Axel; Cames, Martin; Healy, Sean, 2011. Solving the MRV challenge for new market-based mechanisms: What can past experience teach us? Öko-Institut Discussion Paper.

• Stadelmann, Martin; Castro, Paula; Michaelowa, Axel, 2011. Is there a leverage paradox within climate finance? Working paper. Cambridge, UK: Climate Strategies.

• Stadelmann, Martin; Castro, Paula; Michaelowa, Axel, 2011. Mobilising private finance for low-carbon development. Final report. Cambridge, UK: Climate Strategies.

• Butzengeiger-Geyer, Sonja; Castro, Paula; Harthan, Ralph; Hayashi, Daisuke; Healy, Sean; Maribu Karl Magnus; Michaelowa, Axel; Okubo, Yuri; Schneider, Lambert; Storrø, Ingunn, 2010. Options for utilizing the CDM for global emission reductions. Report UBA-FB 001414/E. Dessau-Roßlau, Germany: German Federal Environment Agency.
• Castro, Paula; Michaelowa, Axel, 2008. Empirical analysis of performance of CDM projects: final report. Cambridge, UK: Climate Strategies.
• Castro, Paula; Benecke, Gudrun, 2008. Empirical analysis of performance of CDM projects: case study India. Discussion Paper CDM-7. Cambridge, UK: Climate Strategies.
• Castro, Paula, 2008. Empirical analysis of performance of CDM projects: case study China. Discussion Paper CDM-6. Cambridge, UK: Climate Strategies.
• Coello, Javier; Castro, Paula, 2008. Biocombustibles, agua y agricultura en los Andes (Biofuels, water and agriculture in the Andes). Revista Virtual REDESMA, Centro Boliviano de Estudios Multidisciplinarios.
• Castro, Paula, 2007. Empirical analysis of performance of CDM projects: rejections and withdrawals. Discussion Paper CDM-4. Cambridge, UK: Climate Strategies.

Affiliations

Current Affiliations

Quartierverein Eichliacker: Member of the board
Member of the board of the Eichliacker neighbourhood association. Tasks include organising social events for the neighbourhood population, disseminating information relevant to the neighbourhood via various channels, and representing the interests of the neighbourhood's residents vis-à-vis the relevant authorities and third parties., Winterthur
03 / 2024 - today

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