Research Overview
My research focuses on the interaction of international institutions and domestic political economy in the area of clean energy and climate governance, the effectiveness of global environmental governance, and just transitions in the Global South and North America. My book, titled "Governing Energy Transitions: A Study of Clean Energy Regime Complex Effectiveness on Geothermal Development in Indonesia and the Philippines", was published Open Access with Cambridge University Press (2025), thanks to support from the Swiss National Science Fund (SNSF). The book examines the effectiveness of complex global governance in fostering clean energy transitions through cases of geothermal development in Indonesia and the Philippines. I am also working on new research on contestation over the just transitions, equity and reliability, and policy adaptation in the U.S. electricity sector.
Across my projects, I have used qualitative and quantitative methods, including field research, in-depth interviews, comparative analysis and process tracing, and social network analysis. My research has been supported by the SNSF and the Albert Gallatin Fellowship for International Affairs, along with other travel and smaller research grants and awards.
My research expertise and other areas of interest include renewable energy policy, climate finance, development aid, political economy, climate change policy, just transitions and environmental justice.
My research focuses on the interaction of international institutions and domestic political economy in the area of clean energy and climate governance, the effectiveness of global environmental governance, and just transitions in the Global South and North America. My book, titled "Governing Energy Transitions: A Study of Clean Energy Regime Complex Effectiveness on Geothermal Development in Indonesia and the Philippines", was published Open Access with Cambridge University Press (2025), thanks to support from the Swiss National Science Fund (SNSF). The book examines the effectiveness of complex global governance in fostering clean energy transitions through cases of geothermal development in Indonesia and the Philippines. I am also working on new research on contestation over the just transitions, equity and reliability, and policy adaptation in the U.S. electricity sector.
Across my projects, I have used qualitative and quantitative methods, including field research, in-depth interviews, comparative analysis and process tracing, and social network analysis. My research has been supported by the SNSF and the Albert Gallatin Fellowship for International Affairs, along with other travel and smaller research grants and awards.
My research expertise and other areas of interest include renewable energy policy, climate finance, development aid, political economy, climate change policy, just transitions and environmental justice.
Publications
Chelminski, K. (2025) Governing Energy Transitions: A Study of Impacts on Geothermal Development in Indonesia and the Philippines. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009352604.
Chelminski, K. (2025) Governing Energy Transitions: A Study of Impacts on Geothermal Development in Indonesia and the Philippines. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009352604.
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Chelminski, K., Wei, G., and G.P. Bellocca (2026) Light out on vulnerable communities: ZIP code-level spatial examination of inequitable grid reliability in Portland and Seattle. Energy Policy 212 (115096). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2026.115096.
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Chelminski, K. (2025) Sparking adaptation: The politics of reforming effective interconnection regimes in Massachusetts and New York. Energy Research & Social Science 127( 104125). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2025.104125
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Chelminski, K., Andonova, L. and Y. Sun (2022) Emergence and Structuring of the Regime Complex for Clean Energy. Global Governance 28(4): 1-30. doi: https://doi.org/10.1163/19426720-02804005 
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Chelminski, K. (2022) Climate Finance Effectiveness: A Comparative Analysis of Geothermal Development in Indonesia and the Philippines. Journal of Environment and Development 31(2): 139-167. doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/1070496521107003
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Andonova, L., Castro, P. and K. Chelminski (2018) Transferring technologies: The polycentric governance of clean energy technology. Chapter in A. Jordan, D. Huitema, H. van Asselt, and J. Forster (Eds.) Governing Climate Change: Polycentricity in Action? Cambridge University Press: Cambridge. U.K. doi: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108284646.
| andonova_castro_chelminski_2018_ch._15_transferring_technologies.pdf |
Chelminski, K. (2018) Redefining success in fossil fuel subsidy reform in Indonesia. Chapter in H. van Asselt and J. Skovgaard (Eds) Politics of Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, U.K. doi: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108241946.
| chelminski_2018_indonesia_ffsr.pdf |
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Andonova, L. and K. Chelminski (2015) “UNEP,” chapter in Edward Elgar Encyclopedia of Global Environmental Politics and Governance, P. Pattberg and F. Zelli (eds), Edward Elgar: UK. |
Work in Progress
Chelminski, K. “Contesting the Just Transition in the Global South: Comparing lithium extraction and geothermal development on Ancestral land ” Article under review.
Chelminski, K., Wei. G, Belloca, G.P. “Lights Out on Climate Vulnerability: A Systematic Examination of Inequitable Grid Reliability in Urban U.S. Cities.” Article under review.
Chelminski, K., Colgan, J. and M. Larsen. “How climate change disrupts the global financial order.” Article under review.
Chelminski, K. “The Rise of the Global South and Multipolarity in Clean Energy Governance.” Article in preparation.
Chelminski, K. “Contesting the Just Transition in the Global South: Comparing lithium extraction and geothermal development on Ancestral land ” Article under review.
Chelminski, K., Wei. G, Belloca, G.P. “Lights Out on Climate Vulnerability: A Systematic Examination of Inequitable Grid Reliability in Urban U.S. Cities.” Article under review.
Chelminski, K., Colgan, J. and M. Larsen. “How climate change disrupts the global financial order.” Article under review.
Chelminski, K. “The Rise of the Global South and Multipolarity in Clean Energy Governance.” Article in preparation.
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Borobudur Temple in Indonesia
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