Primary Program
About
Mari is a policy-oriented social scientist who has been studying climate change, energy transitions and sustainable development policy in the Gulf and globally for 17 years. At KAPSARC, she leads research projects on carbon markets and Paris Agreement Article 6, and on the Circular Carbon Economy Index. She has worked for other leading energy, sustainable development and foreign policy research institutions, including the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies, the International Institute for Sustainable Development (Earth Negotiations Bulletin), Georgetown University, the Finnish Institute of International Affairs, and the Emirates Diplomatic Academy. Mari holds a master’s degree in political science and international politics from the University of Helsinki and a Ph.D. in Middle Eastern studies from Durham University. In addition to a broad research publications portfolio, she has substantial experience in executive training, presentations, policy advisory, and reporting services for multilateral environmental negotiations.
Publications
23 May 2024
Toward Just Transitions in the MENA Region: Insights from the 2022 Circular Carbon Economy IndexIn recent years, it has become increasingly evident that any major effort to reduce emissions will require a whole-of-society approach that brings along people equally within and across countries. As a sign of this notion entering the “mainstream” of global climate governance, a just...
17 March 2024
Paris Agreement Article 6 and Geological CO2 Storage: The State of Affairs After COP 28This KAPSARC commentary focuses on the role of CCS within the market mechanisms defined in Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. It discusses how related technologies fit under Article 6 and examines the current progress in implementing this article. The analysis draws insights from the ...
10 April 2022
Balancing China’s Energy Security and Its Transition to Carbon NeutralityAt the United Nations (UN) General Assembly’s seventy-fifth session held on September 20, 2020, Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged that China would reach peak carbon emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. This is seen as a significant step in the global effort...
02 November 2021
How the Circular Carbon Economy Index Can Serve Policymaking: Case Study of Saudi ArabiaThe Circular Carbon Economy (CCE) Index is a tool developed by KAPSARC for energy and climate policymakers and stakeholders to quantify and compare country performance and potential on the CCE. The CCE is a relatively new concept. It aims to draw attention to the need to address carb...
13 July 2021
Measuring to Manage: The Case for Improving CO2 Monitoring and Reporting in Saudi Arabia) and greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) monitoring and reporting in the Kingdom. Such systems provide the essential evidence base for domestic climate policymaking. Developing them will also be crucial in helping Saudi Arabia achieve its reporting commitments under ...2 mitigation efforts.
