Bio

Fernando Garci-Crespo Santaló is an MA student at IRES working under the supervision of Milind Kandlikar with an interest in environmental economics, sustainable development, electoral politics and public policy. He is deeply passionate about bridging the divide between knowledge, people and power; how researchers can drive public policy and fend off growing populist narratives that cast doubt on the value of science, research and academia. 

Beyond his MA, Fernando is working as an researcher on a project analyzing the climate plans of the Pathways Alliance, a consortium of oil companies in the Albertan oil sands pledging to reach net zero emissions by 2050.

Prior to IRES Fernando graduated with distinction from UBC with a BA Honours with a double major in Geography & Economics, and worked as a policy researcher for a joint project by the OECD and Global Methane Hub on the mitigation of methane emissions from waste.

Aside from research and academia, Fernando has been involved numerous projects in electoral politics and activism, from local campaigns in Vancouver to projects as far as New Zealand or Newfoundland and Labrador. As part of his work as an activist and political organizer, Fernando has attended various UN international conferences such as COPs or HLPF.