Together with discussant Dr. Ruth Carlitz, these early-career scholars demonstrate how foundational research generates new directions for understanding climate finance. The presentations will be followed by reflections from a ClimateFiGS discussant and an open discussion with the audience.

About the speakers

Tessa Tutschka holds a Master’s in Political Economy from the University of Amsterdam and is currently an intern at the World Resources Institute, supporting strategic partnerships and research. She has worked with various policy and research initiatives on climate and conflict in Germany and Austria and now provides research support to the ClimateFiGS team. Her MSc thesis explores how right-wing populist governments allocate climate adaptation finance, and whether they might be doing it in a self-interested, targeted manner.

Paula Haerle is a MSc Comparative Politics graduate of the University of Amsterdam, with experience spanning international climate funds, energy transitions, and municipal climate cooperation. She currently works as a research assistant with ClimateFiGS and as a European Partnerships intern at the World Resources Institute. Her thesis, written within the CLIFF project, discusses the concept of Debt-Driven Carbon Lock-in, showing how international financial structures trap countries in fossil fuel dependence.

Janina Krupski completed her Master’s in Political Economy at the University of Amsterdam in 2024. Her thesis, Few Contributors, Limited Recipients, analyzes how bilateral contributors allocate adaptation finance in Africa, finding that strategic relationships, governance, and colonial legacies often outweigh climate vulnerability. She has since worked as a climate and economics strategy consultant at PwC and her research interests span climate finance, development policy, and the role of public–private actors in the green transition.