Dr Johannes Michael Luetz

Keywords

Fields of Research (FoR)

Social Change, Sustainable Development, Human Rights and Justice Issues, Social Policy and Planning, Religion and Society

SEO tags

Climate Change Adaptation Measures

Social Impacts of Climate Change and Variability

Religion and Ethics

Studies in human society

Biography

Johannes M. Luetz is Adjunct Associate Professor in the School of Social Sciences at UNSW Sydney, specialising in the intersection of sustainability, religion, and development. A social scientist with an international upbringing across Sierra Leone, Switzerland, Germany, and Australia, he has led interdisciplinary research spanning the science–faith, interfaith, and science–policy interface. His work includes Asia–Pacific consultancies, UNFCCC advocacy reports, and a major evaluation of early warning systems across 13 countries. Johannes’s scholarship has appeared in Nature Climate Change and Nature Communications, and he has spearheaded landmark Springer publications on climate change management, the UN SDGs, and interfaith engagement. He serves on multiple editorial boards and is committed to advancing socially just and environmentally sustainable futures.

Research and Publications: Johannes’s scholarship has advanced understanding of faith-engaged sustainable development and climate change adaptation. He has led major international editorial projects, including:

Handbook of Traditional Spirituality and Sustainability (Springer Nature, 2026; forthcoming);
Interfaith Engagement Beyond the Divide (Springer Nature, 2023); Beyond Belief (Springer Nature, 2021);
Quality Education: Encyclopedia of the UN SDGs (Springer Nature, 2020)—the largest editorial project on sustainable development ever undertaken, and the world’s most comprehensive publication on the UN SDGs;
Handbook on Climate Change Management (Springer Nature, 2021)—launched at UN COP26, it is the largest non-publicly funded editorial project on climate adaptation to date (229 chapters; 6 volumes; 500+ authors)

Professional Roles: In addition to his UNSW role, Johannes is Adjunct Professor in the School of Law and Society at the University of the Sunshine Coast, Director of Graduate Research and Research Development, and Chair of the Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) at Alphacrucis University College. He is Deputy Editor of the International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management (Emerald) and serves on editorial boards for Discover Sustainability (Springer), Christian Higher Education (Routledge), and Humanities & Social Sciences Communications (Nature Portfolio).

My Qualifications

Ph.D. (UNSW); MBA (Germany); BA (USA)

My Awards

Selected prizes include:

Best Paper Award (2023): Luetz, J.M., Reimagining Sustainability Centres as Places for Ecocentric Biodiversity Conservation. Presented at the World Symposium of Climate Change and Sustainable Development Centres, Hamburg, Germany, 29–30 Jun. 2023.

HDR Supervision Excellence Award (2023): This Award celebrates AC’s most outstanding HDR principal supervisors, giving recognition for the excellence of their HDR supervision, their outstanding skills in mentoring candidates, and positive outcomes regarding original research produced ($500 prize money).

Best Paper Award (2018): Unger, J.M. & Luetz, J.M., Engaging Employees in Corporate Social Responsibility Projects—A Case Study from the Lufthansa Group Showcasing Experiences and Lessons Gathered in Kenya, Rwanda, Nigeria and Columbia. Presented at World Symposium on Social Responsibility and Sustainability, University of Edinburgh, Scotland/UK, 27–29 June 2018.

Best Paper Award (2017): Luetz, J.M. & Hausia, P.H., “We’re not Refugees, We’ll Stay Here Until We Die!”—Climate Change Adaptation and Migration Experiences Gathered from the Tulun and Nissan Atolls of Bougainville, Papua New Guinea. Presented at World Symposium on Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation Strategies in Coastal Communities, Apia, Samoa, 5–7 July 2017.

Town & Gown Speech (2013): Invited to deliver PhD research to UNSW Chancellor David Gonski AC, President and Vice-Chancellor Fred Hilmer AO and more than 300 guests comprising academics, business leaders, government representatives, the not-for-profit sector and the diplomatic corps at annual UNSW Town & Gown signature dinner (3 September 2013). One of four selected UNSW PhD researchers; Leighton Hall/John Niland Scientia, University of New South Wales.

ASPIRE Award (2012): Winner of the ASPIRE Award ($500) at the 2012 Three Minute Thesis academic public speaking competition UNSW Interfaculty Finals (25 September 2012). Represented Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS). One of 22 UNSW finalists; Leighton Hall, The John Niland Scientia, University of New South Wales. Presentation Title: Climate Migration.

3MT First Prize (2012): Awarded first prize ($300) in Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) faculty heats for oratory PhD research presentation (28 August 2012) and selected to represent FASS at interfaculty finals (25 Sept. 2012). Title: Climate Migration. With 180 seconds and one static slide, 3MT forces PhD students to crystallise their research for an intelligent, non-specialist audience.

Best Master Thesis Prize (2006): MBA European-Asian Management Programme (awarded 20 Nov. 2006). Thesis Title: ‘Opportunities for Global Poverty Reduction in the 21st Century—The Role of Policy Makers, Corporations, NGOs, and Individuals.’ Berlin School of Economics, Germany.