Global Political Ecology Group

The Global Political Ecology Group is based at the University of British Columbia under the supervision of Juliet Lu. We examine topics related to environmental conflict, governance, and change through a political ecology lens, meaning we place governance and policy questions in their historical, political economy, discursive, and socio-material contexts. We focus in particular on struggles over land access and control, particularly around large-scale transnational agribusiness and infrastructure investments, as well as their broader implications for environmental governance across scales. We meet regularly to workshop writing and share ideas on emerging research.

September 2023 GPE Group Retreat with Hamish Van Der Ven's Lab at UBC Farm (Photo credit: Muh Syukron, bottom right)

Current Members

JOACHIM STASSART

Joachim is a Ph.D. student in the Faculty of Forestry. He is passionate about land conflicts and deforestation in Brazil and analyzes them through a political ecology lens. His research is inspired by his experience at Transparency International Brazil where he worked for four years and reported on the linkages between corruption and land grabbing, wildlife trafficking, illegal mining, and climate change in the country. As a research consultant, he has also published a report on the importance of fighting land corruption to tackle climate change for Transparency International's Secretariat in Berlin. Prior to those experiences, he worked as a political intern at the French embassy in Myanmar. Joachim holds a Master's degree in International Affairs from Sciences Po Paris, and Bachelor's degrees in both political science and economics and business management from UCLouvain. His second passion is eating comida afetiva and learning to cook secret recipes from the people he meets. Find him as well on LinkedIn.

THAO NGUYEN

Thao is an MSc student in the Faculty of Forestry at UBC. Born and raised in Hanoi, Vietnam, he moved to Canada at age 16 for his studies. He is a social science researcher working at the nexus of the environment and human livelihoods, specifically focusing on the impacts of various sustainability initiatives on commodity chains and forest-dependent local communities. His theoretical approach draws insights from sustainable livelihoods, political ecology as well as human and environmental geographies. His research so far has spanned both the rural and urban landscapes in Southeast Asia, with a particular interest in his home country Vietnam. Before coming to UBC, he completed his undergraduate degree in Environment and Development at McGill University from 2018 to 2022. In his free time, he loves playing and watching sports (soccer/badminton) and cooking. Find him on LinkedIn as well. 

ELLEN LI

Ellen was an undergraduate research assistant for GPEG and double-majoring in International Relations and Political Science at UBC. Through her work with our group, she was inspired to examine the evolving roles of Chinese non-state actors in overseas environmental governance and natural resource management. She plans to continue exploring the political economy, geography, and global environmental politics of extractive industries in her graduate studies in the School of Environment MES Program at the University of Toronto (2024-25). Ellen was born and raised in China and has studied in Canada since high school. She participated in an exchange program at Sciences Po Paris and backpacked around Europe in 2023. She always sends herself postcards when she travels, and her goal is to build up a whole wall of postcards from around the world. Find her also on LinkedIn. 

KHIN HTET HTET PYONE 

(Forthcoming!)

FIDELINE MBORINGONG

Fideline is a PhD student at the University of British Columbia Faculty of Forestry, Fideline is keenly interested in the governance of transnational land investments, particularly in mining and infrastructure projects within forest landscapes, focusing on the Congo Basin. Her passion lies in participating in discussions on mining and infrastructure investments to advocate for sustainable outcomes for forest communities and the environment. Fideline's research journey is rooted in her background at WWF Cameroon, where she spent eight years monitoring investments in the mining, infrastructure, and agriculture sectors. She employs a transdisciplinary approach in her research, aiming to delve deeper into the intricacies of these issues within the Congo Basin. Fideline holds a Master's degree in International Cooperation (Environmental Management and Sustainable Development) from the International Relations Institute of Cameroon (IRIC) and Università Cà Foscari of Venice. Outside her academic pursuits, she enjoys exploring new places, immersing herself in documentaries, and staying informed through podcasts.

Prospective Members
If you are interested in joining the GPE Group, please complete this form and send a follow-up email to Juliet.Lu@UBC.Ca with "Prospective GPE Group Member" in the subject line. 

*Please Note* I am not taking graduate students again until Fall 2026, as I am on maternity leave this year (2024) and recruiting only through the PERCS project the following year. I will be unable to respond to prospective student emails during leave. 

Past Members

JIXIANG WANG

Jixiang Wang graduated from UBC in 2021 with a major in International Relations and a minor in Political Science. Her research interests include climate justice, decolonization, and art-based knowledge mobilization. Aside from the Global Political Ecology Group, she was also a Policy Analyst for the BC Council for International Cooperation (BCCIC) Climate Change branch, where she worked to produce a report on green investing in the context of Canada. She will begin as a Masters' student in the UBC Geography Department this year. 

SONG FU

Song Fu graduated from UBC with a Master's degree in Public Policy and Global Affairs. He worked for Dr. Juliet Lu on sustainable palm oil and was a study consultant for Mekong Region Land Governance. Before coming to UBC, Song also worked as a program assistant for the immigration section of the Canadian Embassy in Beijing.

NORAH GE

Norah is an international development professional with work experience in different international organizations across North America, East Asia, and Europe. She recently graduated from UBC with a master's degree in International Forestry. Her current research interests focus on global biodiversity governance and the green development of China's overseas infrastructure investment. In her spare time, she loves to take solo road trips.

QINGYANG LI 

Qingyang is a recent graduate of the Master of International Forestry program. Her journey began with a foundation in Ecology during her undergraduate studies in China. Transferring to the University of British Columbia, she deepened her knowledge in Natural Resources Conservation with a focus on Global Perspectives. Post-graduation, Qingyang engaged in a formative internship at the Hunan Academy of Forestry, where her involvement in a local conservation project fueled her desire to further her education. She returned to UBC for her Master’s, driven by her burgeoning interest in the dynamics of global political ecology, particularly the application of international conservation agreements at various governmental levels. Qingyang firmly believes that "conservation must take root locally" to be effective, and she is determined to be a catalyst for conservation and sustainable development within her research team.

YUXI LIU

Yuxi Liu is a recent graduate of International Forestry from the University of British Columbia. With a primary focus on environmental studies, sustainability, and conservation, she brings a deep understanding of ecological system and natural resource management to her work. Additionally, Yuxi is an entrepreneur in the sustainable clothing industry, demonstrating her commitment to environmentally conscious practice and innovation in the business sector.