Em Finkelstine

Em’s research explores the political economy of renewable energy transition, with a focus on US-China relations and green industrial policy. Em is particularly interested in the ways that US green industrial policy and Chinese green industrial policy have affected one another. They aim to map and explain the surviving realms for US-China climate cooperation—especially with regard to clean energy technologies—amidst an increasingly hostile geopolitical environment. Before coming to Berkeley, Em studied Chinese politics from a variety of angles through their undergraduate degree at UT Austin and master’s degree as a Yenching Scholar at Peking University. They also worked as a translator, editor, and international coordinator for an economic research center at Tsinghua University. These experiences have shaped Em’s understanding of China and their commitment to the importance of US-China relations in addressing the climate crisis.