Zarina Ahmad

Personal statement:

I am an interdisciplinary researcher working at the intersection of climate justice, gender, race and food systems, with a particular focus on the everyday sustainability practices of racialised communities in the UK.

My doctoral research examines the cultural politics of sustainable consumption, exploring the food provisioning practices of Pakistani-heritage women and their implications for climate policy and social justice. I use qualitative and participatory methodologies, including ethnography, narrative inquiry and co-produced research.

Alongside my academic work, I bring approx. twenty years’ experience working across policy, civil society and community practice, translating research into impact on just transition, environmental justice and inclusive climate governance.

Collaboration opportunities:

I welcome opportunities to collaborate with researchers, policymakers and community organisations working on climate justice, food systems, gender and environmental governance. I am particularly interested in partnerships that combine academic research with community-led knowledge and policy impact, including participatory research, co-produced projects and interdisciplinary collaborations. I am keen to work with colleagues exploring just transition, sustainable consumption, feminist political ecology, and inclusive climate policy, particularly where research can support equitable climate action and amplify the leadership of marginalised communities.

Publications:

Peer Reviewed Journal Articles:

MacGregor, S., Ali, N., Ahmad, Z., Katz Gerro, T. & Walker, C. (2022)
Better policy through symmetry? Examining the whiteness of green governance in Manchester.
Nordic Journal of Migration Research

Mattar, S.D., Jafry, T., Schröder, P. & Ahmad, Z. (2021)
Climate justice: priorities for equitable recovery from the pandemic.
Climate Policy, 21(10), 1307–1317.

Ali, N., Katz Gerro, T., Walker, C., Ahmad, Z. & MacGregor, S. (2024)
Holding up a mirror: researching symmetrically to explore exclusion, othering and whiteness in local environmental governance.
Local Environment

Ahmad, Z., Arya, D., Bell, K., McGregor, C., Scandrett, E. & Temper, L. (2022)
Environmentalism from the margins: interviews with scholar activists.
Community Development Journal, 57(1), 132–166.

Tobin, P., Ali, N., MacGregor, S. & Ahmad, Z. (2023)
“The religions are engaging: tick, well done”: The invisibilization and instrumentalization of Muslim climate intermediaries.
Policy Studies, 44(5), 627–645.

Other outputs:

1) Media Feature – “WL Meets: Zarina Ahmad on food justice for the most marginalised” (Wicked Leeks / Riverford, Feb 2026).
In depth interview on feminist food justice, affordability, and culturally appropriate food systems.

2) Podcast – “The Decarbonisation Dialogue (Ep. 24) with Zarina Ahmad” (Salix Finance / YouTube, Oct 2025).
Conversation on inclusive climate language, feminist leadership, and widening participation.

3) Podcast – “Having faith: the role of Muslim climate intermediaries” (Brussels School of Governance / GreenDeal NET, Sept–Oct 2023).
With Paul Tobin and Zarina Ahmad on faith based climate intermediation and inclusion.
https://soundcloud.com/user-767951479/episode-6-podcast-6-having-faith-the-role-of-muslim-climate-intermediaries

4) Book Chapter – “Keeping Faith In… Activism/Action”, in Keeping Our Faith (Women’s Interfaith Network)
A reflective chapter on interfaith feminist activism, climate justice, and community leadership.
Forthcoming publication / link not yet publicly available.

5) Impact Report – Limborough Community Food Hub: End of Project Report (Just FACT, Jan 2026).
Place based “cook–grow–eat” hub outcomes, participation data and lessons for just food transitions.

6) Report – Our Right to Food: Pakistani Households in Scotland (Nourish Scotland, Apr 2025).
Co authored applied research translating culturally valued diets into a measurable “shopping basket” for rights based food monitoring.

7) Blog/Opinion – “WEN’s Take on COP30: Women and Indigenous voices must be at the heart of climate action” (Wen, Nov 2025).
A feminist climate justice reflection linking COP26 experiences with inclusion agendas at COP30.

8) Exhibition & Programme – Climate Sisters (Glasgow, London, North West England; ongoing).
Public facing creative leadership programme and exhibitions centring racialised women’s climate knowledge (incl. Glasgow Science Centre; University of Glasgow “Local Women of the World” at COP26).

9) Blog/Long read – “Wen’s Take: Reflections on Just FACT, feminist leadership and power” (Wen, Feb 2026).
Programme learning and leadership insights from five years of community led food & climate action in Tower Hamlets.

10) Podcast (BBC Sounds/Apple) – Blossom Trees and Burnt Out Cars, Ep. “The drowned out voices of climate change” featuring Zarina Ahmad (2022).