Alex Edwards
Towards Modelling Post-Growth Futures
Background
MSc Climate Change and Environmental Policy, BSc Conservation Biology
PhD
Towards Modelling Post-Growth FuturesMy research focuses on energy-economy modelling, with a specific interest in post-growth, energy efficiency and low energy demand futures. I work with the E3ME-FTT energy-economy-environment macroeconometric model, developed by Cambridge Econometrics and the University of Exeter. During my time at the University of Exeter I have also contributed to the DECIPHER and EEIST projects.
I am currently working on improving the representation of rebound effects in E3ME-FTT. While energy efficiency policies are often framed as win-win, cost-effective solutions, their effectiveness is influenced by complex, non-linear interactions that remain underrepresented in energy-economy models. My research aims to refine our understanding of these dynamics, equipping policy makers with the necessary tools to design effective and legitimate climate policies.
I am also a founding member of the Post-Growth Modelling Community (PGMC), a community of modelers and non-modelers interested in exploring post-growth futures. We recently organised the first Post-Growth Narratives Workshop, which was hosted at the University of Exeter in September 2025. The workshop served as a platform for the community to define clear priorities and shared objectives and put us firmly on track to develop a series of post-growth narratives and enable post-growth to play a more visible role in the upcoming IPCC and IPBES assessment reports.
Supervisors
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Lead Supervisor
Femke Nijsse
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Co-Supervisor
Karen Bickerstaff
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Co-Supervisor
Paul Brockway