Julia Steinberger researches and teaches in the interdisciplinary field of ecological economics. Her work examines the interconnections between the use of biophysical resources (energy, emissions) and societal performance, focusing on human well-being. It employs quantitative and modelling methods derived from industrial ecology, as well as qualitative and participatory approaches, derived from political economy, aimed at a decarbonised society. Today, she co-leads a 6 year ERC Synergy research-action project about societies transition to a post-growth era.

Julia Steinberger is Professor of Ecological Economics at UNIL and lead author of the IPCC. After a PhD in physics from MIT in 2004 and post-doctorates in industrial ecology, she taught social and ecological economics at the University of Leeds and has published over 55 articles on climate change. Among other things, she is co-director of a major EUR 10 million, 6-year research project on the post-growth economy funded by the European Research Council (ERC).