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 (BeCoSS Climate) / 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

• 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.

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