Advisor & Director, CACEPS

Abul Quasem Al-Amin, PhD

Dr. Abul Quasem Al-Amin is a prominent academic and researcher whose work sits at the intersection of environmental economics, climate change policy, and sustainable development. His interdisciplinary approach connects rigorous economic modelling with real-world policy impact across Southeast Asia, South Asia, and transitional economies worldwide. With active positions spanning Canada and Malaysia, he advises international bodies, shapes national policy discourse, and mentors the next generation of sustainability researchers. His contributions extend to UNDP and UNDESA, and as Malaysia's representative to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), he stands at the forefront of global climate negotiations.

25+
Years Research
151+
Publications
MIT
Former Fellow
UNFCCC
MY Rep.
Associate & Visiting Scholar — Harvard Asia Center
Adjunct Professor — University of Waterloo, Canada
Special Professor — Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
Founding Director — CACEPS, Windsor, ON, Canada

Academic Formation

Education & Training

PhD, Environmental Economics
Joint Programme · External supervision by Prof. Walter Leal Filho
National University of Malaysia (UKM) · University of Manchester / Hamburg University
MSc & BSc, Economics
Undergraduate & Postgraduate Studies
Jahangirnagar University, Bangladesh
MSCP Postdoctoral Fellow
2017–2019 · Dept. of Urban Studies & Planning · Supervisor: Prof. Larry Susskind
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

Career

Academic Positions

2024–Present
Associate & Visiting Scholar, Harvard Asia Center
Harvard University, USA
2024–Present
Special Professor — AHIBS (18-month collaboration with Harvard Asia Center & HBS)
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
2023–2024
Visiting Professor, History of Science & Earth/Planetary Sciences
Harvard University, USA
2020–Present
Adjunct Professor, Dept. of Geography & Environmental Management (on research leave)
University of Waterloo, Canada
2017–2019
MSCP Postdoctoral Fellow, Dept. of Urban Studies & Planning
MIT, USA
2018–2019
Visiting Professor, Dept. of Geography & Environmental Management
University of Waterloo, Canada
2017–2019
Professor & Visiting Professor, International Business School
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
2016–2020
Professor, Institute of Energy Policy and Research (IEPRe)
Universiti Tenaga Nasional, Malaysia
2016–2017
Adjunct Professor, International Business School
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia

Research Interests

Climate Change Policy & Mitigation Integrated Assessment Modelling (IAM/DICE/RICE) Energy Economics & Low-Carbon Transitions Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technology Environmental Computable General Equilibrium (e-CGE) Food & Agriculture Security Disaster Risk Reduction & Flood Modelling Carbon Footprint Analysis UNFCCC Negotiations & Global Climate Governance Green Climate Fund & Sustainable Development ASEAN & South Asia Climate Economics Carbon Pricing Mechanisms

Selected Works

Key Publications

2022
Climate change and COVID-19: shared challenges, divergent perspectives, and collaborative solutions
Environmental Science and Pollution Research · Wahaj, Alam & Al-Amin
2021
Magnitudes of households' carbon footprint in Iskandar Malaysia
Journal of Cleaner Production, 315, 128042 · Zen, Al-Amin, Alam & Doberstein
2021
Global economic crisis, energy use, CO₂ emissions, and policy roadmap amid COVID-19
Sustainable Production and Consumption, 26, 770–781 · Aktar, Alam & Al-Amin
2020
Climate Change Policies and Agendas: facing implementation challenges and guiding responses
Environmental Science and Policy, 104, 190–198 · Filho, Al-Amin et al.
2019
Introduction of Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles: Prospects and Challenges for Malaysia's Transition to a Low Carbon Economy
Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 26(30), 31062–31076 · Al-Amin & Doberstein
2018
Climate Change Mitigation Projections for ASEAN
Journal of the Asia Pacific Economy, 23(2), 195–212 · Rasiah, Al-Amin et al.
2016
Food Security Challenge of Climate Change: An Analysis For Policy Selection
Futures, 83, 50–63 · Al-Amin & Ahmed
2015
Prioritizing climate change mitigation: an assessment using Malaysia to reduce carbon emissions in future
Environmental Science & Policy, 50, 24–33 · Al-Amin, Rasiah & Chenayah

Authored & Edited

Books

2023
Vulnerability, Social Capital and Disaster Preparedness: Experiences of Orang Asli Families in Malaysia
Springer
2021
Climate Change and Adaptation for Food Sustainability
Springer
2020
Handbook of Climate Change Management: Research, Leadership, Transformation
Springer International
2020
Handbook of Climate Change Management (Climate Change Management Series)
Springer
2017
Sustainable Economic Development: Green Economy and Green Growth (World Sustainability Series)
Springer USA
2015
Climate Change Impacts and Management. In: Handbook of Climate Change Adaptation
Springer

Recognition

Awards & Honours

2018

Research & Publication Award (International)

Universiti Tenaga Nasional & MIT, USA

2017

T. Nejat Veziroglu Award — Most Cited Paper

Hydrogen Energy/Economy Category · International Journal of Hydrogen Energy

2017

Research & Publication Award 2016

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia

2016

Research & Publication Award 2015

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia

2015

Professional Service Award

International Business School, UTM

2014

Outstanding Reviewer Award

Emerald Publishing, UK

2013

Outstanding Reviewer Award

Emerald Publishing, UK

2013

Excellence in Research Award (Penyelidikan)

University of Malaya, Malaysia

2008

Young Researcher Grant Award

IIOA Association, Vienna, Austria


Applied Research

Consultancy Engagements

2023–2025
Carbon Pricing Impact Analysis & Policy Design (2025–2065) — Lead Modeller (US$2.4M)
World Bank, Washington DC
2024–2025
National Carbon Market Policy Study — Lead Modeller
KPMG & Ministry of Natural Resources, Malaysia
2023–2024
Bangladesh Green Industries Diagnostic — Project Leader
LSE, UK & ARCED Foundation
2021–2022
PPP Model for Low Carbon Climate-Resilient Infrastructure
UNDP Bangladesh & New York
2021–2022
Gender-Responsive Adaptive Livelihoods Planning Toolkits
UNDP Bangladesh & New York
2019–2020
Green Climate Fund (GCF) Feasibility Study, North-Western Bangladesh
HEKS/EPER, Switzerland
2017–2018
Climate Change Roadmap & INDC Implementation for Non-Annex Countries
GIR, C2GMF, Republic of Korea
2011–2015
Cooperative Green Growth Modelling — Malaysian Expert (US$1.5M)
GIR-C2GMF, Republic of Korea
2011–2012
Supporting National Governments in Transition to a Low-Carbon Pathway — Malaysian Expert
UN-DESA, New York, USA