His research interests lie at the intersection of deliberative democracy, democratic innovations, social norms, and climate and environmental governance. In his current research projects, Janosch is concerned with the question whether, or under which conditions, deliberative mini-publics, such as citizens’ assemblies, can enable more ambitious climate action at the national level, while limiting risks of policy backlashes and societal polarization.

Contact: janosch.pfeffer[at]leuphana.de

Visit Janosch’s profiles on LinkedIn | ORCiD | GoogleScholar

Outputs

Pfeffer, J. (2025). Chapter 2 Setting the agenda for climate assemblies: Key dimensions and dilemmas. In O. Escobar & S. Elstub (Ed.), Climate Assemblies: New Civic Institutions for a Climate-changed World (pp. 27-46). De Gruyter. https://doi.org/10.1515/9783111328393-008

Disselkamp, L., Wipfler, B., Wehden, S., Pfeffer, J. (2025). Gemeinsam voran – Machbarkeitsstudie Deliberative Beteiligung in der Klimapolitik. Robert Bosch Stiftung (Hirsch, S., & Lissner, T. [Hrsg.]). https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15878513

Pfeffer, J., & Newig, J. (2025). Political embedding of climate assemblies. How effective strategies for policy impact depend on context. Environmental Science & Policy, 164(4), 103993. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2025.103993

Pfeffer, J. (2024). Setting the agenda for climate assemblies. Trade-offs and guiding principles. Climate Policy, 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1080/14693062.2024.2349824

Schatz, V., Newig, J., & Pfeffer, J. (2024). Die Institutionalisierung von Klimaräten durch Klimaschutzgesetzgebung. Natur Und Recht, 46(7), 433–442. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10357-024-4406-z

Pfeffer, J., Renn, O., & Newig, J. (2023, May 30). Wem nutzen Bürgerräte wirklich? DIE ZEIT Online.

Pfeffer, J., & Sahl, J.-C. (2021). Bürgerräte und die parlamentarische Demokratie. Zeitschrift Für Rechtspolitik(5), 153.

Pfeffer, J., Wehden, S., & Klingenhage, B. (2021). Mut machen statt zumuten: Über die Rolle von Bürger*innenräten in der Entscheidungsdekade der Großen Transformation. Forschungsjournal Soziale Bewegungen (FJSB), 31(34).

Vita

Since 2026: Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Institute for Sustainability Governance, Leuphana University Lüneburg

2021-2026: PhD researcher at the Institute for Sustainability Governance, Leuphana University Lüneburg

2022-2025: PhD Scholarship Holder, Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung

2022–2023: Affiliate Scholar at the Institute of Advanced Sustainability Studies (IASS Potsdam)

2022: Co-Lead of a Knowledge Development Project of the Knowledge Network on Climate Assemblies (KNOCA)

2021/2022: Public relations for the Berlin Citizens’ Assembly on Climate Change commissioned by the Senate for Environment, Mobility, Consumer and Climate Protection

Since 2021-2023: Coordinator of the politics division at Klimamitbestimmung e.V.

2019-2021: MSc Sustainable Development, Earth System Governance, Utrecht University (highest distinction)

2017: Intern at the United Nations Division of the Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)

2016-2019: Student Assistant at the Methods of the Social Sciences Department, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg

2015-2019: BA Political Science and Economics, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg (highest distinction)