Overview
Background
Pedro Fidelman is an Associate Professor and Principal Research Fellow at the Centre for Policy Futures, The University of Queensland, where he leads the Social and Environmental Sustainability research theme.
His research examines how governance systems address emerging sustainability challenges. He studies the institutions, policies, regulations and decision-making processes that shape responses to changing environmental, societal and technological conditions.
His work spans diverse sustainability contexts, including water and catchment governance, climate adaptation, biodiversity conservation, marine and coastal governance, sustainable agriculture, the blue economy and emerging sustainability technologies. A major focus of his current research is the governance, policy and regulatory implications of emerging sustainability technologies, including reef restoration and adaptation, offshore renewable energy and RNA-based biotechnologies.
Alongside his empirical research, Pedro develops innovative approaches for analysing governance systems, including governance analytics, comparative governance and AI-assisted qualitative analysis.
His research has informed national and international policy initiatives and has been cited in policy documents produced by governments and international organisations across multiple countries. He has served as Coordinating Lead Author (Oceans and Coasts) for the United Nations Global Environment Outlook 7.
Availability
- Associate Professor Pedro Fidelman is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, University of Wollongong
Research interests
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Environmental policy and governance
Understanding how governance systems address emerging sustainability challenges through policy, institutions and governance.
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Governance of emerging sustainability technologies
Governance, policy and regulatory implications of emerging technologies for environmental and sustainability outcomes.
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Environmental policy and governance
Including, but not limited to, marine and coastal social-ecological systems, natural resource management, climate change and water management.
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Governance innovation
Governance innovation, institutional adaptation and regulatory innovation under conditions of environmental, societal and technological change.
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Comparative governance
Comparative governance across sustainability challenges, jurisdictions and governance levels.
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Innovative analytical methods
Governance analytics, institutional analysis, comparative methods and AI-assisted qualitative analysis.
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Marine and coastal governance
Governance of marine and coastal social-ecological systems, biodiversity conservation, restoration and the blue economy.
Research impacts
Pedro's research has contributed to environmental policy and governance nationally and internationally through leadership roles in major environmental assessments, policy advisory initiatives and collaborative research programs. His research has informed national strategies and international initiatives addressing climate change, biodiversity conservation and emerging sustainability technologies. It has been referenced in 93 policy reports produced by 32 policy bodies across 15 countries, demonstrating its contribution to environmental decision-making and international science–policy processes.
Works
Search Professor Pedro Fidelman’s works on UQ eSpace
2024
Other Outputs
Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program – Regulatory Sub-program Final Report
Shumway, N., Foster, R., Gunasekara, S., Head, B. and Fidelman, P. (2024). Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program – Regulatory Sub-program Final Report. Townsville, QLD, Australia: Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program.
2024
Conference Publication
Current state of knowledge and on-going developments regulating RNAi-based products for agriculture
Gunasekara, Sandya and Fidelman, Pedro (2024). Current state of knowledge and on-going developments regulating RNAi-based products for agriculture. 2024 Annual Meeting - ARC Research Hub for Sustainable Crop Protection, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 1-3 May 2024.
2024
Conference Publication
The role of regulatory and legal frameworks in enabling RNAi-based biopesticides
Gunasekara, Sandya and Fidelman, Pedro (2024). The role of regulatory and legal frameworks in enabling RNAi-based biopesticides. 10th Annual Frontiers in Environmental Law Colloquium, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 8-9 February 2024.
2024
Other Outputs
Governance principles for novel reef interventions
Shumway, Nicole, Foster, Rose, Head, Brian and Fidelman, Pedro (2024). Governance principles for novel reef interventions. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: The Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program.
2023
Journal Article
Assessing multi-level climate governance and adaptation in a coastal metropolitan context in Brazil
Almeida de Carvalho, Danielle, Fidelman, Pedro, de Oliveira, Mayara, Pardo, Juan and De Freitas, Débora (2023). Assessing multi-level climate governance and adaptation in a coastal metropolitan context in Brazil. Revista Costas, 5 (2), 79-102. doi: 10.25267/costas.2023.v5.i2.0503
2023
Journal Article
Policy solutions needed for the future of coral reefs
Shumway, Nicole, Foster, Rose, Head, Brian and Fidelman, Pedro (2023). Policy solutions needed for the future of coral reefs. BioScience, 73 (11), 1-3. doi: 10.1093/biosci/biad092
2023
Journal Article
Co-designing a multi-criteria approach to ranking hazards to and from Australia’s emerging offshore blue economy
Turschwell, Mischa P., Brown, Christopher J., Lacharité, Myriam, Melbourne-Thomas, Jess, Hayes, Keith R., Bustamante, Rodrigo H., Dambacher, Jeffrey M., Evans, Karen, Fidelman, Pedro, Hatton MacDonald, Darla, Van Putten, Ingrid, Wood, Graham, Abdussamie, Nagi, Bates, Mathilda, Blackwell, Damien, D’Alessandro, Steven, Dutton, Ian, Ericson, Jessica A., Frid, Christopher LJ, McDougall, Carmel, Lea, Mary-Anne, Rissik, David, Trebilco, Rowan and Fulton, Elizabeth A. (2023). Co-designing a multi-criteria approach to ranking hazards to and from Australia’s emerging offshore blue economy. Environmental Science and Policy, 147, 154-168. doi: 10.1016/j.envsci.2023.06.008
2023
Journal Article
A synthesis of approaches to support integrated assessments of hazards for the emerging Blue Economy
Turschwell, M. P., Fulton, E. A., Melbourne-Thomas, J., Lacharité, M., Hayes, K. R., Wood, G., Evans, K., Hatton MacDonald, D., Dambacher, J., Bustamante, R. H., Abbassi, R., Fidelman, P. and Brown, C. J. (2023). A synthesis of approaches to support integrated assessments of hazards for the emerging Blue Economy. Marine Policy, 155 105696, 1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.marpol.2023.105696
2023
Journal Article
A network approach to analyse Australia’s blue economy policy and legislative arrangements
Frohlich, Miguel, Fidelman, Pedro, Dutton, Ian, Haward, Marcus, Head, Brian W., Maynard, Dianne, Rissik, David and Vince, Joanna (2023). A network approach to analyse Australia’s blue economy policy and legislative arrangements. Marine Policy, 151 105588, 105588. doi: 10.1016/j.marpol.2023.105588
2023
Book
SM Bay City - Sustainability Framework: pathways for achieving sustainability outcomes in Manila Bay
Maher, Ray, Ahmad, Mubeen, Fidelman, Pedro, Franks, Daniel, Fuller, Richard, Hyland, Peter, Junior, Patrick, Kenway, Steven, Ly, Leo, Molyneaux, Lynette, Sharma, Rahul, Sipe, Neil, Sochacka, Beata, Sockhill, Nicola and Webster-Mannison, Marci (2023). SM Bay City - Sustainability Framework: pathways for achieving sustainability outcomes in Manila Bay. Manila, The Phillipines: SM Prime.
2023
Journal Article
Global governance for pandemic prevention and the wildlife trade
Gallo-Cajiao, Eduardo, Lieberman, Susan, Dolšak, Nives, Prakash, Aseem, Labonté, Ronald, Biggs, Duan, Franklin, Christine, Morrison, Tiffany H., Viens, A. M., Fuller, Richard A., Aguiar, Raphael, Fidelman, Pedro, Watson, James E. M., Aenishaenslin, Cécile and Wiktorowicz, Mary (2023). Global governance for pandemic prevention and the wildlife trade. The Lancet Planetary Health, 7 (4), e336-e345. doi: 10.1016/S2542-5196(23)00029-3
2022
Other Outputs
Policy futures: a reform agenda
Yarnold, Jennifer , Brown, Prue, Fidelman, Pedro , Guster, Kirsty , Davey, Adam and Cain, Tracey (2022). Policy futures: a reform agenda. Brisbane, Australia: The University of Queensland.
2022
Journal Article
The principles driving gene drives for conservation
Hartley, Sarah, Taitingfong, Riley and Fidelman, Pedro (2022). The principles driving gene drives for conservation. Environmental Science and Policy, 135, 36-45. doi: 10.1016/j.envsci.2022.04.021
2022
Journal Article
Towards adaptive coastal management law: lessons from Australia and Brazil
Frohlich, Miguel, Smith, Timothy F., Fidelman, Pedro, Baldwin, Claudia, Jacobson, Chris and Carter, R.W. (Bill) (2022). Towards adaptive coastal management law: lessons from Australia and Brazil. Ocean and Coastal Management, 219 106057, 106057. doi: 10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2022.106057
2022
Book Chapter
Coral reefs: the case for ecological reflexivity
Fidelman, Pedro (2022). Coral reefs: the case for ecological reflexivity. Routledge handbook of marine governance and global environmental change. (pp. 175-182) edited by Paul G. Harris. Abingdon, Oxon, United Kingdom: Routledge/Taylor and Francis. doi: 10.4324/9781315149745-19
2021
Other Outputs
The future of sustainability solutions
Franco, Isabel B., Fidelman, Pedro, Maher, Ray, Ritchie, Brent, Yarnold, Jennifer, Derbyshire, Ellen, Foster, Rose and Ulhmann, Kora (2021). The future of sustainability solutions. Conversation Series Brisbane, Australia: The University of Queensland.
2021
Other Outputs
Sustainable oceans and coasts national strategy 2021-2030
Laubenstein, Taryn , O'Donnell, Tayanah, Evans, Karen, Fidelman, Pedro, Fulton, Beth, Gillanders, Bronwyn, Harvey, Nick, Nakata, Martin, Norman, Barbara, Nursey-Bray, Melissa and Smith, Tim (2021). Sustainable oceans and coasts national strategy 2021-2030. Canberra, ACT, Australia: Future Earth Australia, The Australian Academy of Science.
2021
Journal Article
Legal barriers to adaptive coastal management at a coastal erosion hotspot in Florianópolis, Brazil
Frohlich, Miguel F., Smith, Timothy F., Fidelman, Pedro, Baldwin, Claudia, Jacobson, Chris and Carter, R.W. (Bill) (2021). Legal barriers to adaptive coastal management at a coastal erosion hotspot in Florianópolis, Brazil. Marine Policy, 127 104436, 104436. doi: 10.1016/j.marpol.2021.104436
2021
Other Outputs
Mapping and analysis of blue economy policy and legislative arrangements
Fidelman, Pedro, Frohlich, Miguel, Head, Brian, Haward, Marcus, Vince, Joanna, Rissik, David, Dutton, Ian and Maynard, Dianne (2021). Mapping and analysis of blue economy policy and legislative arrangements. Launceston, TAS Australia: Blue Economy Cooperative Research Centre.
2021
Other Outputs
Review of monitoring, evaluation and reporting approaches and outcomes in Parks Australia
Jacobson, Chris, Hockings, Marc, Watson, James, Head, Brian and Fidelman, Pedro (2021). Review of monitoring, evaluation and reporting approaches and outcomes in Parks Australia . Online: University of Queensland.
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Associate Professor Pedro Fidelman is:
- Available for supervision
Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on how to choose a supervisor.
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
The use of artificial intelligence and machine learning in independent regulatory agencies
Principal Advisor
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Doctor Philosophy
Navigating a sea of legal requirements: The barriers and enablers for large-scale marine and coastal restoration
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Justine Bell-James
Completed supervision
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
Policies and legislation for Resilience-Based Management - a case study of the Great Barrier Reef.
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Justine Bell-James
Media
Enquiries
Contact Associate Professor Pedro Fidelman directly for media enquiries about:
- climate change adaptation
- environmental policy
- global environmental change
- Great Barrier Reef
- marine and coastal systems
- natural resource management
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