Professor James Pittock

BSc, PhD
Professor, Fenner School of Environment and Society

Professor Jamie Pittock teaches courses on environment and society (ENVS1001/6101) and climate change vulnerability and adaptation (ENVS8003). His research focusses on environmental governance, climate change adaptation, energy and sustainable management of water. Jamie manages a research projects on irrigation in Africa (Mozambique, Tanzania and Zimbabwe) and on energy and food in the Mekong region. Jamie is also Director of International Programs for the ANU's UNESCO Chair in Water Economics and Transboundary Water Governance.

Jamie's PhD examined integration between management of freshwater ecosystems and responses to climate change focussed on the interplay between treaties. National and basin scale research involved case studies from nine countries.

Prior to joining ANU, Jamie worked for WWF International as Director of their Global Freshwater Program on conservation of wetlands, water use in agriculture, and river basin management. Previously Jamie worked for WWF Australia on: national environmental laws; conservation of threatened species and communities; management of invasive species; and measures to support Indigenous and private conservation land managers. He has also worked on environmental issues in the Northern Territory and in Victoria.

Jamie is a fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) and a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD). He is a member of the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists and the World Commission on Protected Areas, serves on the board of Water Stewardship Australia and on the Eminent Scientists Group of WWF Australia. Jamie is a senior editor ofRegional Environmental Change.

Areas of expertise

  • Ecosystem Function
  • Freshwater Ecology
  • Environmental Management
  • Ecological Impacts Of Climate Change
  • Conservation And Biodiversity
  • Wildlife And Habitat Management
  • Climate Change Processes
  • Natural Resource Management
  • Agricultural Hydrology (Drainage, Flooding, Irrigation, Quality, Etc.)
  • Water Resources Engineering

Researcher's projects

His major work includes research on:

  • Water and agriculture in southern Africa
  • Management of the Murray-Darling basin
  • The energy-water nexus
  • Mekong River: hydropower, protein and greenhouse gas emissions
  • Pumped-storage hydropower in Australia
  • Governance of biodiversity, climate change, and water

Research interests

  • Climate change adaptation
  • Conservation of freshwater ecosystems
  • Hydropower and other water infrastructure
  • Intersection of biodiversity, climate change, energy, food and water policies
  • Multi-lateral environment agreements
  • Non-government organizations and natural resources management
  • River basin and landscape management
  • Water management (including in Africa, China and the Mekong)

Projects and Grants

Grants information is drawn from ARIES. To add or update Projects or Grants information please contact your College Research Office.