Lauren Gifford, Ph.D., is a critical geographer exploring intersections of global climate change policy, conservation, markets and justice. Her work asks how, and by whom, carbon is quantified, standardized and commodified for carbon removal solutions. She has particular expertise in carbon markets and offsets, climate finance, climate tech, and UNFCCC processes.
Gifford is Associate Director of the Soil Carbon Solutions Center at Colorado State University, with a faculty affiliation in the Department of Ecosystem Science and Sustainability. Through 2023 she is also a Research Scientist with the University of Arizona’s School of Geography, Development and Environment, researching Earth system governance, transformations, tipping points, and safe and just Earth system boundaries with the Earth Commission.