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Staff Profile

Professor Darren McCauley

Prof of Environmental & Social Justice

  • Email: darren.mccauley@ncl.ac.uk
  • Personal Website:
  • Address: 缅北禁地 Law School
    缅北禁地
    21-24 Windsor Terrace
    缅北禁地 upon Tyne
    NE1 7RU
Background

External websites: / /

Darren McCauley is Professor in Environmental & Social Justice, 缅北禁地 Law School, 缅北禁地, UK. Prof. McCauley was previously Chair in the Management of International Social Challenges at Erasmus University Rotterdam. He maintains a Visiting Professorship there as a part of the Science, Public Issues and Imaginaries group of DPAS. Darren held his Senior Lectureship at the University of St. Andrews. He held lectureships at Stirling, Queens and Trinity College Dublin. Prof. McCauley also holds other visiting positions at several institutions and many external commissions of trust (editorial and editorships, peer review colleges, external boards).

Please feel free to find out more at the Research, Teaching and Publication tabs of this webpage, and explore the external websites above

Research

External websites: / /

Darren McCauley's research and publications are focused on environmental and energy policy, particularly in the field of energy justice, just transition and sustainability, with his work influencing policy frameworks and strategies at various levels, supported by numerous prestigious funding programmes.

Publications

His work uncovers, interrogates, and develops new policy and regulatory solutions to social and environment inequalities. Conceptually, he has developed the inter-disciplinary frameworks of energy justice, just transition and sustainability with other leading scholars. Empirically, he has used mixed methods approaches to exploring the actions of government, business, and activists, within Europe, and more recently in Africa, Southeast Asia, US and the Arctic.

Discipline academic publication example: McCauley, D. (2026). The energy justice implications of reduced consent in planning reforms: assessing UK nuclear planning reforms for small modular reactors.

Interdisciplinary academic publication example: McCauley, D. 2025, 'Just circularities: Intersecting livelihoods, technology, and justice in just transition and circular economy',

Non-Academic publication example: McCauley, D. (2024) A just and fair energy transition – or no transition at all?,

See 'Publications' tab, Scholar and Scopus links above for more

Funding

Research throughout his career has been made possible by a wide range of external sponsors including (among others) British Academy, ESRC, EPSRC, GCRF, H2020 and Horizon Europe funding programmes, Leverhulme, Dutch Council NWO, UK Energy Research Centre, the Carnegie Trust, and the Royal Society of Edinburgh.

Funding Example: 2024-2020, £6,700,000, Towards Just, Equitable and Sustainable Arctic Economies and Societies (JUSTNORTH), Horizon Europe. Details: We aimed to bring the values of Arctic stakeholders to economic development decision-making through understanding current practices, policies, and perspectives of development in the Arctic, by evaluating existing economic activities in 17 case studies.

Example deliverable: JUSTNORTH Justice Database

See ORCID link above for an extensive list

Impact

His research has a wide and deep impact on international and national policies and strategies. It is based upon a continuous engagement with a wide range of diverse external and internal stakeholders, establishing strong links with national and international industry, regulatory bodies, policy makers, and world-leading research institutions.

Impact Example: His research addresses the challenge of quantifying justice metrics for international organisations. This work is crucial in ensuring fair and equitable transitions as the world moves towards sustainable development goals. In McCauley et al. (2022), we developed the DEEPER model to analyse the roles of Arctic states and formal observer states in leading a just transition in the Arctic. This data-driven approach underscores global commitments to justice in this sensitive region. In McCauley et al. (2023), we examined national commitments to a just transition in Latin America and the Caribbean, focusing on region-specific challenges and opportunities. McCauley and Pettigrew (2023) explored strategies to reduce fossil fuel dependence in the Asia-Pacific, offering practical pathways for clean energy investment. These studies provide frameworks for international organisations to implement just transitions.

He has disseminated his research findings to ensure they are impactful and relevant. He presented at the European Commission in Brussels, emphasising the importance of social justice within the European Green Deal. At the ISIE International Conference in Leiden for example, he explored the role of living labs and sustainability. Most recently he addressed the European context of decommissioning at the College of Europe in Bruges. His work has also influenced notable reports. The World Bank's Social Foundations of a Just Coal Transition (2024) and The Relationship between Climate Action and Poverty Reduction (2023) both cite his research. The United Nations Environment Programme's Emissions Gap Report also references his work. These citations demonstrate the influence of his research on international policy discussions. In total, over 200 major international reports have cited his work.

The DEEPER model and method developed in his research have significantly influenced the work of the World Bank and the United Nations Environment Programme. The World Bank has used these tools in its recent reports to assess justice metrics in energy transitions and to align climate initiatives with poverty reduction goals. The United Nations Environment Programme's Emissions Gap Report uses the DEEPER model to evaluate justice metrics in global emission reduction efforts. His research provides these organisations with robust tools to quantify justice, influencing policy and strategic decisions.

Teaching

Prof. McCauley has designed, delivered, coordinated and marked on over 50 courses at 18 universities across the world, including the design and delivery of research-led electives as well as large- and small-scale undergraduate and postgraduate levels, in addition to teaching research methods. He has designed and lead educational programmes at postgraduate and undergraduate level. Please see below for his current teaching at 缅北禁地 Law School.

Current research-led option/elective module teaching 缅北禁地

His role: design, coordinate, deliver and mark all

LAW8583 : Energy Justice: Theories, Systems, and re-designing policies

This interdisciplinary module enables students to apply justice concepts to energy systems, tackling critical ethical, political, and legal decisions. It covers various energy systems and encourages students to develop practical policy solutions for the energy justice trilemma of accessibility, availability, and sustainability. No prior knowledge is required, and all disciplines are welcome.

LAW8584 : International Environmental Law

The module, 'International Environmental Law', provides a comprehensive exploration of the legal framework that governs environmental concerns on a global scale. This curriculum is meticulously designed to offer an in-depth understanding of the various aspects of this complex and evolving field of law. The module commences with an introduction to International Environmental Law, offering an overview of its principles, sources, and implementation.

LAW3015 :Environmental Law

This module, 'Environmental Law', enables students to cover both UK and International Environmental Law through the prism of four shared legal principles. We examines together legislative frameworks, statutes and customary law covering key case law and debates. It covers topics like environmental permitting and impact assessment with in-depth insights into topics like climate change and litigation, biodiversity, ecosystems and species, oceans, seas and freshwater.

Previous compulsory module teaching 缅北禁地

His role: design, coordinate, deliver and mark

LAW8091 : Legal Research: Theory and Method

This is the preparation module for the dissertation for all LLM students

LAW8099 : Dissertation

This is main LLM module for all Masters students

Current other contributions to other modules at 缅北禁地

His role: contribute teaching only

SCX8000 : Facing up to Climate Change: A Multi-Disciplinary Perspective

This is a module for LLM students across the university

LAW8152 : Applied Research Methods in Law

The module offers advanced research methods training for students wishing to pursue Doctoral level research in Law


Publications

  • Articles

    • McCauley D. . Journal of Energy & Natural Resources Law 2026, epub ahead of print.
    • Pettigrew K, McCauley D. . Groundwater for Sustainable Development 2026, 33, 101603.
    • McCauley D. . Journal of Cleaner Production 2025, 500, 145176.
    • McCauley D. . Energy Research & Social Science 2025, 130, 104457.
    • McCauley D, Quintavalla A, Prifti K, Binder C, Brodden F, Brink H. . Sustainability Science 2024, 19, 2085-2099.
    • Holmes R, McCauley D, Muinzer T. . International Journal of Global Energy Issues 2024, 46, 454-462.
    • Bozeman JF, Hollauer C, Ramshankar AT, Nakkasunchi S, Jambeck J, Hicks A, Bilec M, McCauley D, Heidrich O. . Journal of Industrial Ecology 2024, 28(6), 1362-1376.
    • Bulder C, Todd I, McCauley D, Burns MK. . Environmental Policy and Governance 2023, 33(4), 351-363.
    • Heffron R, Fontenelle L, Basil C, Castiella G, Droubi S, Hazrati M, Hussein H, Kraal D, McCauley D, Philips A, Santoire E, Sartre X. . Journal of Energy & Natural Resources Law 2023, 41(2), 211-232.
    • McCauley D, Pettigrew K, Todd I, Milchram C. . Ecological Economics 2023, 205, 107699.
    • McCauley D, Pettigrew K, Heffron R, Droubi S. . Environmental and Sustainability Indicators 2023, 17, 100225.
    • McCauley D, Pettigrew K. . Energy Policy 2023, 183, 113808.
    • McCauley D, Pettigrew K, Bennett M, Todd I, Wood-Donnelly C. . Global Environmental Change 2022, 73, 102480.
    • Hogan J, Warren C, Simpson M, McCauley D. . Energy Policy 2022, 171, 113257.
    • Damgaard C, McCauley D, Reid L. . Energy Research and Social Science 2022, 84, 102356.
    • Hirose R, McCauley D. . Energy Policy 2022, 164, 112862.
    • Heffron R, McCauley D. . Energy Policy 2022, 165, 112949.
    • Muinzer TL, Jenkins KEH, McCauley D, Little GML. . The Electricity Journal 2022, 35, 107218.
    • Todd I, Bulder C, McCauley D, Burns MK. . Local Environment 2022, 27(6), 712-727.
    • McCauley D, Grant R, Mwathunga E. . Climatic Change 2022, 170, 28.
    • Droubi S, Heffron R, McCauley D. . Energy Research and Social Science 2022, 86, 102444.
    • Jenkins KEH, Sovacool BK, Mouter N, Hacking N, Burns MK, McCauley D. . Environmental Research Letters 2021, 16(4), 043009.
    • Heffron RJ, Downes L, Ramirez Rodriguez OM, McCauley D. . Resources Policy 2021, 74, 101272.
    • Martin MA, Sendra OA, Bastos A, Bauer N, Bertram C, Blenckner T, Bowen K, Brando PM, Rudolph TB, Büchs M, Bustamante M, Chen D, Cleugh H, Dasgupta P, Denton F, Donges JF, Donkor FK, Duan H, Duarte CM, Ebi KL, Edwards CM, Engel A, Fisher E, Fuss S, Gaertner J, Gettelman A, Girardin CAJ, Golledge NR, Green JF, Grose MR, Hashizume M, Hebden S, Hepach H, Hirota M, Hsu HH, Kojima S, Lele S, Lorek S, Lotze HK, Matthews HD, McCauley D, Mebratu D, Mengis N, Nolan RH, Pihl E, Rahmstorf S, Redman A, Reid CE, Rockström J, Rogelj J, Saunois M, Sayer L, Schlosser P, Sioen GB, Spangenberg JH, Stammer D, Sterner TNS, Stevens N, Thonicke K, Tian H, Winkelmann R, Woodcock J. . Global Sustainability 2021, 4, e25.
    • Todd I, McCauley D. . Energy Policy 2021, 158, 112529.
    • Todd I, McCauley D. . Discover Sustainability 2021, 2, 33.
    • Grant R, McCauley D, Maltzen M, Grattage R, Mwathunga E. . Energy Research and Social Science 2021, 75, 101875.
    • Todd I, De Groot J, Mose T, McCauley D, Heffron R. . Energy Policy 2019, 113, 44-46.
    • McCauley D, Ramasar V, Heffron R, Sovacool B, Mebratu D, Mundaca L. . Applied Energy 2019, 223, 916-921.
    • Heffron R, McCauley D. . Geoforum 2018, 88, 74-77.
    • McCauley D. . Energy Research and Social Science 2018, 41, 32-38.
    • McCauley D, Heffron R. . Energy Policy 2018, 119, 1-7.
    • Jenkins K, Sovacool B, McCauley D. . Energy Policy 2018, 117, 66-74.
    • McCauley D, Brown A, Rehner R, Heffron R, de Graff S. . Applied Energy 2018, 228, 317-323.
    • Heffron R, McCauley D, Zarazua de Rubens G. . Applied Energy 2018, 229, 1191-1201.
    • Heffron R, McCauley D. . Energy Policy 2017, 105, 658-667.
    • Badiuzzaman P, McLaughlin E, McCauley D. . Journal of Environmental Management 2017, 203(Part 1), 123-135.
    • Jenkins K, McCauley D, Warren CR. . Energy Policy 2017, 108, 836-843.
    • Damgaard C, McCauley D, Long J. . Energy, Sustainability and Society 2017, 7, 8.
    • McCauley D. . Oil, Gas and Energy Law 2016, 3, 56-72.
    • Rehner R, McCauley D. . Energy Policy 2016, 88, 289-298.
    • Sovacool B, Heffron R, McCauley D, Goldthau A. . Nature Energy 2016, 1, 16024.
    • Fuller S, McCauley D. . Energy Research and Social Science 2016, 11, 1-8.
    • Jenkins K, McCauley D, Heffron R, Stephan H, Rehner R. . Energy Research and Social Science 2016, 11, 174-182.
    • McCauley D, Heffron R, Pavlenko M, Rehner R, Holmes R. . Energy Research and Social Science 2016, 16, 141-146.
    • McCauley D. . Sustainable Development 2015, 23(5), 273-284.
    • Heffron R, McCauley D, Sovacool B. . Energy Policy 2015, 87, 168-176.
    • McCauley D. . Local Environment: The international journal of justice and sustainability 2015, 20(1), 34-49.
    • Johnson AA, Heffron R, McCauley D. . Energy Research and Social Science 2014, 3, 1-4.
    • Jenkins K, McCauley D, Heffron R, Stephan H. . Queen's Political Review 2014, 2(2), 74-87.
    • Heffron R, McCauley D. . Applied Energy 2014, 123, 435-437.
    • McCauley D. Sustainability, Governance and Time: Exploring Critical Junctures. Environmental Policy and Governance 2013, 23.
    • Heffron R, Johnson AA, McCauley D, Jenkins K. Policy Delivery for Low Carbon Energy Infrastructure in the UK. Energy Policy 2013, 60.
    • McCauley D, Heffron R, Stephan H, Jenkins K. Advancing Energy Justice: The Triumvirate of Tenets and Systems Thinking. International Energy Law Review 2013, 107.
    • McCauley D. Bottom-up Europeanization Exposed: The Anti-GMO movement in France. Journal of Common Market Studies (JCMS) 2011, 49.
    • McCauley D. The Europeanisation of domestic opportunities for movements: The campaigns in France. Journal of Contemporary European Research 2010, 6.
    • Klandermans K, Mahoney C, McElroy G, Gallagher M, Keating M, Riddervold M, Williams D, McCauley D, Miranda B, Savoie D, Erb S. Social Movements and Europeanization: A Review. West European Politics 2010, 33.
    • McCauley D. Wasting Energy? An analysis of campaigns against Waste-to-Energy Plants in France. Environmental Politics 2009, 18.
    • McCauley D. Understanding Environmental Mobilisation within the context of Europeanisation. In-Spire: Journal of Politics, International Relations and the Environment 2008, 2.
    • McCauley D. Sustainable development and the ‘governance challenge’: the French experience with Natura 2000. European Environment 2008, 2.
    • McCauley D. Governance and Sustainable Development: Promoting the Inclusion of Civil Society in France. Environmental Policy and Governance 2008, 18.
    • McCauley D. Europeanisation as Resource Empowerment for NGOs. Perspectives on European Politics and Society 2008, 9.
    • McCauley D, Muentel G. The Impact of ‘Europe’ on Environmental Movements: Evidence from France and Russia. Queen's papers on Europeanization 2007, 14.
    • McCauley D. Environmental Mobilization and Resource-Opportunity Usage. French Politics 2007, 5.

  • Authored Book

    • McCauley D. . Cham: Palgrave Macmillan, 2017.

  • Book Chapters

    • McCauley D, Field T-L, Todd I. . In: McCauley D; Field T-L; Heffron R; Todd I, ed. The Future of Just Transitions: Theory and Implementation. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing, 2024, pp.1-21.
    • Pettigrew K, McCauley D. . In: McCauley D; Field T-L; Heffron R; Todd I, ed. The Future of Just Transitions: Theory and Implementation. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing, 2024, pp.89–104.
    • McCauley D. . In: McCauley D; Field T-L; Heffron R; Todd I, ed. The Future of Just Transitions: Theory and Implementation. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing, 2024, pp.42–60.
    • McCauley D, Field T-L, Heffron R, Todd I. . In: McCauley D; Field T-L; Heffron R; Todd I, ed. The Future of Just Transitions: Theory and Implementation. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing, 2024, pp.182–206.
    • Todd I, McCauley D. . In: Nojiyeza,S, ed. Humanities and Social Sciences perspectives on COVID-19. Cape Town, South Africa: Africa Century Editions Press, 2023.
    • Wood-Donnelly C, McCauley D, Przybylinski S. . In: Ohlsson, J;Przybylinski, S, ed. Theorising Justice. Bristol: Bristol University Press, 2023, pp.32-44.
    • McCauley D. . In: Ohlsson, J;Przybylinski, S, ed. Theorising Justice. Bristol: Bristol University Press, 2023, pp.240-256.
    • Sidortsov R, McCauley D. . In: Ohlsson, J.;Przybylinski, S, ed. Theorising Justice. Bristol: Bristol University Press, 2023, pp.171-190.
    • McCauley D. . In: Wood-Donnelly C; Ohlsson J, ed. Arctic Justice: Environment, Society and Governance. Bristol: Bristol University Press, 2023, pp.51-65.
    • McCauley D. . In: Jan Fransen, Meine P. van Dijk, and Jurian Edelenbos, ed. Urban Planning, Management and Governance in Emerging Economies. Gloucester: Edward Elgar Publishing Limited, 2021, pp.40-56.
    • Kruger R, McCauley D. . In: Bombaerts G; Jenkins K; Sanusi YA; Guoyu W, ed. Energy Justice Across Borders. Cham: Springer, 2020, pp.91–109.
    • Heffron R, McCauley D. . In: Jaria-Manzano J; Borrás S, ed. Research Handbook on Global Climate Constitutionalism. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar, 2019, pp.302–313.
    • Heffron R, Hazrati M, Gordon G, McCauley D. . In: Pereira EG; Bjørnebye H, ed. Regulating Offshore Petroleum Resources. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar, 2019, pp.128–164.
    • Holmes RT, McCauley D, Hanley N. Reshaping Energy Governance in the Arctic? Assessing the implications of LNG for European Shipping Companies. In: Niels Vestergaard et al, ed. Arctic Resource Governance and Development. Springer, 2018.
    • McCauley D. Fossil Fuels and Energy Justice - Coal, Oil and Gas. In: Energy Justice. Springer, 2018.
    • McCauley D. An Energy Justice Road Map—Six Key Considerations. In: Energy Justice. Springer, 2018.
    • McCauley D. Alternative Energy Sources and Energy Justice. In: Energy Justice. Springer, 2018.
    • McCauley D. . In: McCauley D, ed. Energy Justice: Re-Balancing the Trilemma of Security, Poverty and Climate Change. Cham: Springer, 2017, pp.1-26.
    • McCauley D. . In: Environmental Criminology. Bingley: Emerald Publishing Limited, 2017, pp.1-20.
    • McCauley D. . In: Leonard L, ed. Environmental Criminology: Spatial Analysis and Regional Issues. Bingley: Emerald Group, 2017, pp.1-20.
    • McCauley D, Heffron R, Rehner R, Pavlenko M, Holmes R. Arcticness and Energy Justice. In: Ilan Kelman, ed. Arcticness and Change: Power and voice from the North. UCL Press, 2017.
    • Jenkins K, Heffron R, McCauley D. The Political Economy of Energy Justice in Canada, the UK and Australia: A Nuclear Energy Perspective. In: Thijs van de Graff et al, ed. The Palgrave Handbook of the International Political Economy of Energy. Palgrave Macmillan, 2016.
    • McCauley D. . In: Elgie R; Grossman E; Mazur AG, ed. The Oxford Handbook of French Politics. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2016, pp.417–438.
    • McCauley D, Rehner R, Pavlenko M. Assessing the Justice Implications of Energy Infrastructural Development in the Arctic. In: Raphael Heffron and Gavin Little, ed. Delivering Energy Law and Policy in the EU and US. EUP, 2015.
    • McCauley D. . In: Leonard L; Kedzior SB, ed. Occupy the Earth: Global Environmental Movements. Bingley: Emerald Group Publishing Limited, 2014, pp.171-193.
    • McCauley D. Environmental Disputes in France. In: Liam Leonard and John Barry, ed. Global Ecological Politics. Emerald Group, 2011.
    • McCauley D. The EU, France and Wasting Energy?. In: Chris Rootes and Liam Leonard, ed. Environmental Movements and Waste Infrastructure. Routledge, 2010.

  • Edited Book

    • McCauley D, Field T-L, Heffron R, Todd I, ed. . Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing, 2024.

  • Editorials

    • McCauley D, Mundaca L, Sovacool B, Heffron R, Mebratu D, Ramasar V. Low Carbon Energy Systems and Energy Justice. Applied Energy 2019, 233.
    • McCauley D, Jenkins K, Forman A. Exploring the Energy Justice Nexus. Energy Policy 2018, 109.
    • Jenkins K, McCauley D, Foreman A. . Energy Policy 2017, 105, 631-634.

  • Online Publication

    • McCauley D. . socialevraagstukken.nl, 2020. Available at: .

  • Reports

    • McCauley D, Pettigrew K. . Brussels: Solidar: Realising a Social Euope for all with all, 2022.
    • Onderco M, McCauley D. . The Hague: Clingendael Institute, 2021. Sustainability & economy.
    • Martin A, McCauley D, et al. . Montreal: Future Earth, the Earth League and World Climate Research Programme, 2021. 10 New Insights in Climate Science.
    • McCauley D, Todd I, Burns MK, Bulder C. . NWO Dutch Research Council, 2020.
    • Mattar S, Mikulewicz M, McCauley D. . Rovaniemi, Finland: Thematic Network (TN) on Geopolitics and Security of the University of the Arctic, 2020. Arctic Yearbook.

  • Research Datasets/Databases

    • McCauley D. . 2023. Geneva: Zenodo, 284.3kB.
    • Wood-Donnelly C, Ohlsson J, Przbylinski S, Sidortsov R, McCauley D, Skillington T, Mitchell D. . 2022. Geneva: Zenodo, 3.0MB.

  • Review

    • Jenkins K, McCauley D. . Energy 2015, 83, 805-806.