Prof. Dr. Jan Steckel

Jan heads the working group “Climate and Development” at MCC. He is also a professor of climate and development economics at BTU Cottbus.

His research focuses on climate change mitigation in developing and newly-industrializing countries; more specifically he works on:

• Interactions between climate change mitigation and sustainable development
• Drivers of global carbon emissions
• Energy and economic development
• Climate policy and policy instruments in developing and emerging economies
• Political economy and distributional effects of climate policies
• Structural change

Jan received a Ph.D. in economics from TU Berlin and a Master’s degree in industrial engineering from the University of Flensburg and the University of Southern Denmark. From 2007 to 2013 he worked at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact research. In 2022 he's been the Adlerbertska Foundation's Guest Professor at the University of Gothenburg. Jan has authored multiple academic articles and has been an author of the IPCC’s Special Report on Renewables as well as its 5^th Assessment report. He led a chapter on phasing out coal for the UNEP emissions gap report 2017. Until December 2016 he was principal investigator in the project "Macroeconomic Sustainability Assessment" in the Collaborative Research Center 1026 ("Sustainable Manufacturing") funded by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG). He co-leads the Emissions Pricing for Development Initative.

Curriculum vitae

Detailed CV with full list of publications

Ongoing Research and Publications 

Ongoing

Aggarwal, R., S. Ayhan, M. Jakob, J.C. Steckel: Carbon pricing and household welfare: Evidence from Uganda. Working Paper.

Aggarwal, R., T.R. Bhatt, Leonard Missbach, E. Somanathan, J.C. Steckel & T. Sterner: Optimal emissions pricing in LMICs accounting for household emissions from traditional cooking.

Aggarwal, R. & J.C. Steckel. Collective model of firewood consumption, production, and labour supply: Evidence from Malawi.

Ayhan, S., G. Falchetta, J.C. Steckel: Evaluating the impacts of mini-grid electrification in sub-Saharan Africa. Working Paper on request.

Ayhan, S., H. Greve, J. Lay & J.C. Steckel: Distributional impacts of carbon pricing on sub-Saharan African households.

Landström, M., G. Schwerhoff, J.C. Steckel: Capabilities, structural change and climate policy. Working Paper on request.

Manych, N., Egli, F., Ohlendorf, N., Schmidt, T., Steckel, J., Steffen, B., & Stünzi, A.: Cui bono? Explaining the persistence of public finance for coal-fired power plants overseas.Working Paper on request.

Missbach, L., J.C. Steckel, H. Ward: Assessing distributional effects of carbon pricing in Israel.Working Paper on request.

Missbach, L., J.C. Steckel, A. Vogt-Schilb: Beyond progressivity – horizontal and vertical incidence of carbon pricing in Latin America and the Caribbean. Working Paper on request.

Missbach, L., S. Kraus, S. Renner & J.C. Steckel: Burning Coal, flourishing industries? Evidence from the Indonesian manufacturing sector. Working Paper on request.

Montrone, L., J.C. Steckel, G. Nemet: Experts expect that 130-205 GW additional coal-fired power plants will be built. Working Paper on request.

Mohammadzadeh Valencia, F., A. Ramakrishnan, J.C. Steckel, F. Schaffitzel, J.C. Minx. What’s in it for us? How revenue recycling schemes affect public support for carbon pricing policies – a systematic review

Ohlendorf, N., C. Flachsland, G.F. Nemet, J.C. Steckel. Impact of an EU ETS Floor Price on Low-Carbon Investments - Results of a Survey of German Energy Companies. Working Paper on request.

Ordonez, J.A., M. Jakob, J.C. Steckel, H. Ward: Distributional constraints to India's energy transition. Elaborating on the distributional impacts of an energy transition across India´s federal states. Working Paper.

Renner, S., J.C. Steckel, Djoni Hartono, Arief Anshory Yusuf, Targeting vertical and horizontal impacts of carbon pricing in Indonesia. Working Paper on request.

Books

Jakob, M., & Steckel, J. C. (2022). The Political Economy of Coal: Obstacles to Clean Energy Transitions (p. 364). London, New York: Routledge

Peer-reviewed publications

Steckel, J. C., & Jakob, M. (2022). To end coal, adapt to regional realities. Nature 607, 29-31

Montrone, L., Steckel, J. C., & Kalkuhl, M. (2022). The type of power capacity matters for economic development-Evidence from a global panel. Resource and Energy Economics, 101313.

Dorband, I. I., Jakob, M., Steckel, J. C., & Ward, H. (2022). Double progressivity of infrastructure financing through carbon pricing—Insights from Nigeria. World Development Sustainability, 1, 100011.

Ohlendorf, N., Jakob, M., & Steckel, J. C. (2022). The political economy of coal phase-out: Exploring the actors, objectives, and contextual factors shaping policies in eight major coal countries. Energy Research & Social Science, 90, 102590.

Steckel, J. C., & Jakob, M. (2021). The political economy of coal: Lessons learnt from 15 country case studies. World Development Perspectives, 24, 100368.

Steckel, J. C., Dorband, I. I., Montrone, L., Ward, H., Missbach, L., Hafner, F., Jakob, M. & Renner, S. (2021). Distributional impacts of carbon pricing in developing Asia. Nature Sustainability, 4(11), 1005-1014.

Dilusio, F. et al. (2021): Coal transitions—part 1: a systematic map and review of case study learnings from regional, national, and local coal phase-out experiences. Environmental Research Letters, 16(11), 113003.

Ordonez, J. A., Jakob, M., Steckel, J. C., & Fünfgeld, A. (2021). Coal, power and coal-powered politics in Indonesia. Environmental Science & Policy, 123, 44-57.

Manych, N., J.C. Steckel & M. Jakob: Finance-based accounting of coal emissions. Environmental Research Letters 16 (4), 044028

Jakob, M., H. Ward, J.C. Steckel (2021): Sharing Responsibility for Trade-Related Emissions based on economic benefits. Global Environmental Change 66, 102207

Ohlendorf, N., M. Jakob, J.C. Minx, C. Schröder, J.C. Steckel: Distributional Impacts of Climate Mitigation Policies - a Meta-Analysis. Environmental and Resource Economics 78 (1), 1-42

Jakob, M., Flachsland, C., Steckel, J.C., Urpelainen, J (2020).: Actors, objectives, context: A political economy framework of energy and climate policy applied to India, Indonesia and Vietnam. Energy Research & Social Science 70, 101775

Dorband, I. I., Jakob, M., & Steckel, J. C. (2020). Unraveling the political economy of coal: Insights from Vietnam. Energy Policy, 147, 111860.

Jakob, M., Lamb, W. F., Steckel, J. C., Flachsland, C., & Edenhofer, O. (2020). Understanding different perspectives on economic growth and climate policy. Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change, 11(6), e677.

Jeuland, M., Ohlendorf, N., Saparapa, R., & Steckel, J. C. (2020). Climate implications of electrification projects in the developing world: a systematic review. Environmental Research Letters, 15(10), 103010.

Jakob, M., Steckel, J. C., Jotzo, F., Sovacool, B. K., Cornelsen, L., Chandra, R., ... & Robins, N. (2020). The future of coal in a carbon-constrained climate. Nature Climate Change, 10, 704.707

Wenz, L., Weddige, U., Jakob, M., & Steckel, J. C. (2020). Road to glory or highway to hell? Global road access and climate change mitigation. Environmental Research Letters, 15(7), 075010.

Kalkuhl, M., J.C. Steckel, O. Edenhofer (2020): All or nothing - Climate policy when assets can become stranded. Journal of Environmental Economics and Management. 100, 102214

Steckel, J.C., J. Hilaire, M. Jakob, O. Edenhofer (2020). Coal and carbonization in sub-Saharan Africa. Nature Climate Change, 10(1), 83-88.

Dorband, I., M. Jakob, M. Kalkuhl, J.C. Steckel (2019): Are poor households more strongly impacted by carbon pricing? A global comparative analysis of distributional effects. World Development. 115, 246-257

Kalkuhl, M., Steckel, J. C., Montrone, L., Jakob, M., Peters, J., & Edenhofer, O. (2019). Successful coal phase-out requires new models of development. Nature Energy, 4(11), 897-900.

Ward, H., Steckel, J. C., & Jakob, M. (2019). How global climate policy could affect competitiveness. Energy Economics, 84, 104549.

Edenhofer, O., J.C. Steckel, M. Jakob, C. Bertram (2018). Reports of coal’s terminal decline may be exaggerated. Environmental Research Letters, 13(2), 024019.

Forin, S., H. Ward, A. Radebach, J.C. Steckel (2018) The effect of industry delocalization on global energy use: A global sectoral perspective. Energy Economics, 70, 233-243

Franks, M., K. Lessmann, M. Jakob, J.C. Steckel, O. Edenhofer (2018): Mobilizing Domestic Resources for the Agenda 2030 via Carbon Pricing. Nature Sustainability. 1 (7), 350–357

Kriegler, E., Bertram, C., Kuramochi, C., Jakob, M., Pehl, M., Stevanović, M., Fekete, H., Hilaire, J., Höhne, N., Luderer, G., Luna, L., Minx, J., Popp, A., Steckel, J.C., Sterl, S., Yalew, A.W., Dietrich, J.-P., Edenhofer, O. (2018): Strengthening climate policy plans until 2030 to keep 1.5°C within reach. Environmental Research Letters. 13 074022

Steckel, J. C., & Jakob, M. (2018). The role of financing cost and de-risking strategies for clean energy investment. International Economics. 155, 19-28

Ward, H., L. Wenz. J.C. Steckel, J. Minx (2018). Truncation Error Estimates in Process Lifecycle Assessment Using Input-Output Analysis. Journal of Industrial Ecology, 22 (5), 1080-1091

Jakob, M., D. Kübler, J.C. Steckel, R. van Veldhuizen (2017) Clean up your own mess: An experimental study of moral responsibility and efficiency. Journal of Public Economics, 155, 138-146.

Kornek, U., J.C. Steckel, K. Lessmann, O. Edenhofer (2017): The Climate Rent Curse: New Challenges for Burden Sharing. International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics,  17 (6), 855–882

Steckel, J.C., N. Rao, M. Jakob (2017). Access to infrastructure services: Global trends and Drivers. Utilities Policy, 45, 109-117.

Ward, H., A. Radebach, I. Vierhaus, A. Fügenschuh, JC Steckel (2017): Reducing global CO2 emissions with the technologies we have. Resource and Energy Economics, 49, 201-217

Nemet, G. F., Jakob, M., Steckel, J. C., & Edenhofer, O. (2017). Addressing policy credibility problems for low-carbon investment. Global Environmental Change, 42, 47-57.

Steckel, J. C., Jakob, M., Flachsland, C., Kornek, U., Lessmann, K., & Edenhofer, O. (2017). From climate finance toward sustainable development finance. Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change, 8(1).

Ward, H., Burger, M., Chang, Y. J., Fürstmann, P., Neugebauer, S., Radebach, A., ... & Steckel, J. C. (2017). Assessing carbon dioxide emission reduction potentials of improved manufacturing processes using multiregional input output frameworks. Journal of Cleaner Production, 163, 154-165

Hirth, L., & Steckel, J. C. (2016). The role of capital costs in decarbonizing the electricity sector. Environmental Research Letters, 11(11), 114010.

Jakob, M. & J.C. Steckel (2016). Implications of climate change mitigation for sustainable development. Environmental Research Letters, 11(10), 104010

Schueler, V., Fuss, S., Steckel, J. C., Weddige, U., & Beringer, T. (2016). Productivity ranges of sustainable biomass potentials from non-agricultural land. Environmental Research Letters, 11(7), 074026.

Bren d’Amour, C. , Wenz, L., Kalkuhl, M., Steckel, J. C., & Creutzig, F. (2016). Teleconnected food supply shocks. Environmental Research Letters, 11(3), 035007.

Steckel, J.C., O. Edenhofer, M. Jakob (2015): Drivers for the renaissance of coal. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 112 (29), pp. E3775-E3781

Edenhofer, O., M. Jakob, F. Creutzig, C. Flachsland, S. Fuss, M. Kowarsch, K. Lessmann, L. Mattauch, J. Siegmeier, JC Steckel (2015): Closing the Emissions Price Gap. Global Environmental Change, 31, pp. 132-143.

Wenz, L., S.N. Willner, A. Radebach, R. Bierkandt, J.C. Steckel, A. Levermann (2015): Regional and sectoral disaggregation of multi-regional input-output tables - a flexible algorithm. Economic Systems Research, 27(2), pp. 194-212

Zimmer, A., M. Jakob, J. Steckel  (2015): What motivates Vietnam to strive for a low-carbon economy? - An explorative case study on the drivers of climate policy in a developing country. Energy for Sustainable Development, 24, pp. 19-32. Was awarded the Reddy Prize - Best Paper of 2014.

Jakob, M., J. Steckel, C. Flachsland, L. Baumstark (2015):Climate Finance - Curse or Blessing? Climate and Development. Climate and Development, 7 (1), pp. 1-15.

Jakob, M., Jan Christoph Steckel, Stephan Klasen, Jann Lay, Nicole Grunewald, Inmaculada Martínez-Zarzoso, Sebastian Renner, Ottmar Edenhofer (2014): Feasible mitigation options in developing countries. Nature Climate Change, 5 (11): pp. 961 - 968.

Edenhofer, O., M. Jakob, J. Steckel (2014): Does Environmental Sustainability Contradict Prosperity? Global Policy, 5 (1),pp. 15-20.

Jakob, M., J. C. Steckel, O. Edenhofer (2014). Consumption-Versus Production-Based Emission Policies. Annual Review of Resource Economics 6(1), pp 297-318.

Jakob, M., J. Steckel (2014): How climate change mitigation could harm development in poor countries. Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change, 5(2).

Steckel, J, RJ Brecha, M. Jakob, J. Strefler, G. Luderer (2013): Development without energy? Assessing future scenarios of energy consumption in developing countries. Ecological Economics 90: 53-67.

Hübler, M., J. Steckel (2012): Economic Growth, Decarbonization, and International Transfers. Climate and Development 4 (2):88-103.

Jakob, M., G. Luderer, J. Steckel, M. Tavoni, S. Monjon, S. (2012): Time to act now? Assessing the costs of delaying climate measures and benefits of early action. Climatic Change 114 (1): 79-99.

Luderer, G., V. Bosetti, M. Jakob, M. Leimbach, J. Steckel, H. Waisman, O. Edenhofer (2012): The economics of decarbonizing the energy system: Results and insights from the RECIPE model intercomparison. Climatic Change 114 (1): 9-37.

Tavoni, M., E. De Cian, G. Luderer, J. Steckel, H. Waisman (2012): The value of technology and of its evolution towards a low carbon economy. Climatic Change 114 (1): 39-57.

Steckel, J., M. Jakob, R. Marschinski, G. Luderer (2011): From carbonization to decarbonization? - Past trends and future scenarios for China's CO2 emissions. Energy policy 39 (6): 3443-3455.

Steckel, J., M. Kalkuhl, R. Marschinski (2010): Should carbon-exporting countries strive for consumption-based accounting in a global cap-and-trade regime? Climatic Change Letters 100 (3): 779-786.