Women in Climate Action: Featuring Professor Prof. Phoebe Koundouri
At CHOICE, we believe climate action must be inclusive, intersectional, and grounded in the lived experiences of those driving change. That’s why we are proud to spotlight the women leading sustainability transitions across research, policy, and innovation.
Through Women for Climate Action, we are giving visibility to the perspectives and leadership of women who are shaping the future of food systems, environmental policy, and climate science. Each contribution reflects a commitment to systemic thinking, collaboration, and impact.
In this feature, we introduce Professor Dr. Phoebe Koundouri, a globally renowned economist whose work bridges disciplines, sectors, and continents. Her leadership in embedding behavioral change into climate modelling and her influence across global sustainability networks exemplify the kind of action CHOICE seeks to inspire.
Insights from the Frontline of Sustainability
In the following exchange, Professor Koundouri shares her perspective on leadership, systems transformation, and the role of behavioral change in advancing climate goals, offering a personal and professional lens on what it means to drive sustainable action today.
Q: Could you share a bit about your background and areas of expertise, and how they inform your approach to sustainability and climate action?
As an economist, I have pioneered research into innovative, human-centric, interdisciplinary systems for the sustainable interaction between nature, society, and the economy. I am Professor at the Athens University of Economics and Business and Technical University of Denmark, Director of the Sustainable Development Unit (SDU) at ATHENA , Chair of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) Global Climate Hub and director of the Alliance of Excellence for Research and Innovation on Aeiphoria (AE4RIA). AE4RIA, brings together research, innovations accelerators, and numerous science-policy networks and academies, with more than 200 researchers and 100 large, interdisciplinary, competitively funded projects and 250 start-ups incubated, with applications in more than 120 countries.
As such, I work in collaboration with industry and governments all over the world to provide policy support and define sustainable solutions to global climate challenges. I am a member of the Nominating Committee for the Nobel Prize in Economics and elected fellow of prestigious academies including Academia Europaea, World Academy of Art and Science, European Academy of Sciences and Arts, InterAcademy Partnership, Academy of Engineering and Technology of Developing World, Pontifical Academy, European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, and the European Forest Institute. I was President past of the European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists (EAERE) and currently chairing the World Council of Environmental and Natural Resource Economists Associations (WCERE). In addition, I am Academia Europaea Representative to S20 Task Force 2 on Bioeconomy of the G20 Heads of States.
Q: Could you highlight a defining achievement in your career that has meaningfully contributed to advancing climate mitigation or fostering a more sustainable and resilient future?
I consider the founding and leadership of the UN SDSN Global Climate Hub (SDSN-GCH) as a key achievement. The hub adopts a systemic approach towards addressing the multifaceted challenges posed by climate change. It acts as an initiative for change, leveraging science-based solutions for a holistic and equitable transition towards a more resilient and climate-neutral world; building on the scientific outputs of its nine distinct units to produce optimal pathways towards climate neutrality and resilience.
Q: What drives your passion for climate action?
If you cannot measure it, you cannot manage it, you cannot improve it’ – I believe that a critical aspect of achieving the sustainability transition is monitoring our progress towards our sustainability targets. This is essential to develop a good understanding of what is going wrong, so we can revise our approach and get back on track.
Q: What is your specific role in the CHOICE project?
I am the Principal Investigator for ATHENA RC and lead Work Package 2 in CHOICE, which focuses on modelling and promoting behaviour change around food toward IPCC goals. Our aim is to better understand and represent how real people—across diverse social, economic, and cultural backgrounds—make food-related decisions, and how these behaviors respond to different interventions.
WP2 connects deeply with the CHOICE pilots and campaigns, using insights from focus groups, literature, and digital data to design targeted engagement strategies. These are then modeled and tested to evaluate what drives change and how quickly it can spread through society. By doing so, we help ensure that Integrated Assessment Models (IAMs) are no longer abstract or one-size-fits-all, but instead reflect the complexity, diversity, and agency of real communities across Europe and the Global South.
Q: What advice would you give to women who aspire to pursue a career in climate science, sustainability, or related fields?
The future of climate science lies with the next generation and as future climate leaders, one must not be afraid to think out-of-the-box and do things differently. This is how new discoveries are made.
Conclusions
Professor Koundouri’s work exemplifies what it means to lead with both vision and purpose. Her commitment to scientific excellence, institutional collaboration, and the integration of human behavior into climate pathways offers a compelling model for transformative action.
This reflection on her journey is part of CHOICE’s wider effort to celebrate and learn from the women shaping climate solutions. By sharing voices like hers, we aim to foster dialogue, drive ambition, and encourage more women to engage in shaping sustainable futures—across disciplines, generations, and geographies.
We invite you to stay connected with CHOICE through our social media channels, where we continue to elevate the stories and insights of women leading the way in climate action.
