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Dr Metehan Ciftci

Dr Metehan Ciftci

Postdoctoral Researcher

Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment (SSEE)

Mete is a social scientist keen to explore the social, political, and economic implications of natural resource exploitation. His key research themes include environmental justice, the resource curse and associated conflicts, as well as critical minerals and material circularity (circular economy). He holds a PhD from the University College London Institute for Sustainable Resources, where he is researching the social impact of the rising demand for transition minerals in source countries, with a particular focus on lithium-related conflicts in Chile and Argentina. Prior to joining UCL, he completed his MSc in International Political Economy at the London School of Economics and Political Science in 2017 and his BA in International Relations at Galatasaray University in 2016.
 
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Research area Economics
Role Researcher
As part of the ReSET project, Mete is responsible for examining the economic and regulatory frameworks that govern innovative resource extraction from volcanic geofluids and its integration with geothermal energy systems in Montserrat, under Economics and Law Work Package. His role focuses on ensuring that these processes maximise local economic benefits while addressing critical issues such as circular mineral economy, land rights, social license to operate, and regional geopolitical implications. Mete analyses how extractive technologies can contribute to long-term cultural and climate resilience. This work involves close collaboration with other Work Packages across disciplines to navigate the complex social, historical and technological dimensions of resource governance.
 
Mete is also part of the Sustainable Law Programme (SLP) where he contributes to the discussions and research on Environmental Law as well as SLP Business Law stream.

Featured publications

Heydari, M., Noscov, A., Cervantes-Barrón, K., Ciftci, M. M., Andrieu, B., Mwape Chabala, R., Matokwan, M., Serrenho, A. C., & Cullen, J. M. (under review). Toward Responsible Mining: Linking ESG Strategies with Spatial Analysis in Zambia's Copper Mining Industry. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5502038

Ekins, P., Christman, P., Ayuk, E., Obersteiner, M., Primmer, E., Weisz, H., Ameli, N., Chen, W., Ciftci, M., Franks, D., Gatune, J., Jorratt, M., Larosa, F., Lawson, L., Napiontek, J., Rogers, P., Tolonen, K., Lin, Z., Verrier, B., & Wang, P. (2025). Financing the Responsible Supply of Energy Transition Minerals for Sustainable Development. United Nations Environment Programme International Resource Panel. https://wedocs.unep.org/20.500.11822/47718

Born, K., & Ciftci, M. M. (2024). The limitations of end-of-life copper recycling and its implications for the circular economy of metals. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 200, 107318. Https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2023.107318 

Ciftci, M. M., & Lemaire, X. (2023). Deciphering the impacts of ‘green' energy transition on socio-environmental lithium conflicts: Evidence from Argentina and Chile. The Extractive Industries and Society, 16, 101373. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.exis.2023.101373