Scholars
Max Schmidt
Perspectives Climate Research
Based in
United Kingdom
Europe
Max Schmidt specialises in the nexus of climate, development, energy, and public finance. At Perspectives Climate Research, he works mostly on transforming ‘negative’ climate finance into ‘positive’ climate finance, ranging from export finance over fossil fuel financial flows and Loss and Damage finance to renewable energy finance. Previously, as a Carlo-Schmid-Fellow and then consultant, Max supported the country teams of the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) in India, Indonesia, and South Africa in updating their fossil fuel subsidy inventories, the OECD’s Fossil Fuel Subsidies Database, IISD’s Energy Policy Tracker, as well as the Indonesian G20 Presidency in 2022. In 2021, Max was a co-author of the first-ever systematic evaluation of UNDP’s energy access and transition portfolio as a research consultant. As a graduate research assistant at the SOAS Centre for Sustainable Finance, he gained first experience working on the climate-debt-development-trilemma in 12 ASEAN countries in Southeast Asia. Max was first exposed to climate and economic diplomacy in 2018 when he worked for the German Embassy in Pretoria, South Africa.
Max Schmidt holds an M.Sc. in Research for International Development from SOAS, University of London and B.A. degrees in political sciences and sociology. He is also a Certified Expert in Climate and Renewable Energy Finance, awarded by the Frankfurt School – UNEP Collaborating Centre for Climate & Sustainable Energy Finance. Max also completed online courses on energy physics and financial systems with Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, among others.
Country(ies) of Specialty
Germany Sweden United StatesFocus areas of expertise
Climate policy and politics Net Zero Fossil fuels Renewable energyPublications
Articles
Altevogt, J. C. Wörlen, K.J. Kohlmeyer, G. Holzhausen, U. Bickel, M. Schmidt and B. Praetorius (2021). Sector targets for climate protection in Hesse. Wiesbaden: Hessian Ministry of the Environment, Climate Protection, Agriculture and Consumer Protection. Online: https://arepoconsult.com/en/publications/sektorziele-fuer-klimaschutz-in-hessen/
Bakhtaoui, I., S. Buri, J. Cameron, O. Cisse, R. Das, M. Khan, S. Kreft, S. Martin, B. Müller, S. Ombuya, M. Schmidt and H. Thomas (2023). L&D Pilot Funding Arrangements: The Need to Pilot Innovative Funding Sources and Response Tools. ecbi. Online: https://ecbi.org/sites/default/files/L%26D_Pilot_Funding_Arrangements_0.pdf
Brescia, D., P. Censkowsky, M. Schmidt and I. Shishlov (2023). Paris Alignment of Export Credit Agencies – Case Study 6: Italy (SACE). Freiburg: Perspectives Climate Research. Online: https://perspectives.cc/publication/paris-alignment-of-export-credit-agencies-italy-sace/
Bridle, R., C. Muzondo, M. Schmidt, T. Laan, A. Viswamohanan and A. Geddes (2022). Mapping Energy Fiscal Policies in South Africa. Geneva: International Institute for Sustainable Development. Online: https://www.iisd.org/publications/south-africa-energy-subsidies
Censkowky, P., M. Schmidt and I. Shishlov (2022). Paris Alignment of Export Credit Agencies – Case Study 5: The United States (EXIM). Freiburg: Perspectives Climate Research. Online: https://perspectives.cc/publication/paris-alignment-of-export-credit-agencies-usa-exim/
Darouich, L., I. Shishlov, M. Schmidt, P. Pássaro and A. Michaelowa (2023): Debt-for-Climate Swaps as a Tool to Tackle Climate and Debt Crises: Opportunities and Challenges. Freiburg: Perspectives Climate Research. Online: https://perspectives.cc/publication/debt-for-climate-swaps-as-a-tool-to-tackle-climate-and-debt-crises-opportunities-and-challenges/
Garg, V., M. Schmidt and C. Beaton (2021). How Green Is India’s Stimulus for Economic Recovery? How India Can Raise Its Ambition for a Green Stimulus in 2021. New Delhi and Geneva: Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, and International Institute for Sustainable Development. Online: https://www.iisd.org/publications/green-india-stimulus-economic-recovery
Geddes, A. and M. Schmidt (2024). Blackouts and Backsliding: Energy subsidies in South Africa 2023. Geneva: International Institute for Sustainable Development. Online: https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/south-african-energy-subsidies
Michaelowa, A., M. Schmidt, I. Scheichl and E. Danford (2023). Historical experiences with transitions from fossil-based to renewables-based electricity. Bangkok: UNOPS and Southeast Asia Energy Transition Partnership. Online: https://www.energytransitionpartnership.org/uploads/2023/05/Policy-brief-on-Historical-experiences-with-transitions-from-fossil-to-renewable-electricity.pdf