Thant Thura Zan is a researcher and academic from Myanmar, currently pursuing his Ph.D. at Kyoto University’s Global Ecological Economics Lab. His doctoral research focuses on the nexus of just energy transition, climate finance, and sustainable business model innovation for Southeast Asia countries as part of the Team Sustainability Transition and the Research Unit for Development of Global Sustainability at Kyoto University.
He is also a Fellow at the Global Justice Program at the MacMillan Center, Yale University, where his current work explores justice-based approaches to sustainability transitions—distinguishing narrow approaches that address transition-specific costs with broader approaches that tackle systemic inequalities. Beyond academia, Thant contributes to public scholarship and regional policy discourse through his role at The ASEAN Frontier, where he serves as an editor covering themes such as ASEAN’s just transitions, sustainability, green industrial policy, and broader issues linked to SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).
He is also affiliated with the Institute for Climate Law and Sustainable Policy (ICLSP), where he works on advancing sustainable policy solutions for a just, equitable, and livable future in Indonesia, across ASEAN, and beyond. Thant’s broader thematic interests include sustainability transitions and environmentally sustainable economic development. Over the years, he has held multiple academic and research roles and has worked with institutions such as the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs and the ASEAN Centre for Energy.
He holds multiple postgraduate degrees, including an MBA, an MSc in Sustainability Management, and a Master of Commerce. His academic excellence has been recognized with several prestigious awards, including the Amartya Sen Prize from Yale University, the MEXT Scholarship from the Government of Japan, and the ASEAN Master’s Scholarship from the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.