Sustainable Urban Development academics awarded grant for new research on urban climate action and populism
Dr Idalina Baptista and Dr Patricia Canelas, from the Sustainable Urban Development academic team, have been awarded funding from the John Fell Fund (JFF) for their new project, PULSE Hub — Polarized Urban Futures: Climate Action in an Age of Populism. The project is a collaboration with Professor Federica Genovese from the Department of Politics and International Relations.
The PULSE Hub will explore one of the most pressing challenges facing cities today: how to advance climate action in an era of growing political polarization. Urban climate action is essential to addressing the climate emergency, yet many interventions — from low-traffic neighbourhoods to 15-minute city plans — have become focal points for social and political conflict. The project investigates how conspiracy theories, disinformation, and populist narratives are reshaping the politics of urban sustainability and affecting public trust in local climate initiatives.
Supported by the John Fell Fund, the team will host a two-day interdisciplinary workshop to develop a shared research agenda on the polarisation of urban climate action, connecting scholars across Oxford and beyond. The workshop will lay the groundwork for a long-term programme of research into just, inclusive, and sustainable urban futures.
Dr Idalina Baptista states, 'I’m really excited about the opportunity for bringing together in Oxford scholars working on these topics in global North and South contexts. We have much to learn from what is happening across geographical locations, as we have from learning across different disciplines.'
Dr Patricia Canelas goes on to say, 'Urban climate interventions are never purely technical; they reflect social and political values. Through PULSE, we examine how populism affects governance and long-term policymaking. I look forward to collaborating with colleagues to understand populist-led antagonism and distrust in institutions. Ultimately, we must focus on rebuilding trust and dialogue to promote more just and democratic urban change.'
The PULSE Hub represents an important step in expanding Oxford Lifelong Learning interdisciplinary work at the intersection of urban studies, politics, and climate research — and reinforces the Department’s commitment to advancing collaborative research for a sustainable future.
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Published 24 October 2025