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Amanda Fencl is a Western States Senior Climate Scientist for the Climate & Energy program at the Union of Concerned Scientists. Dr. Fencl is an expert in water, climate adaptation, and environmental justice issues with an emphasis on research that informs equitable policy solutions. Their research at UCS focuses on the risks and opportunities from climate change in California and the Western United States. She is committed to advancing climate justice and sustainable water management through her work.
Dr. Fencl has broad professional experience working with a variety of stakeholders, including local and state governments, community-based organizations, and other nongovernmental organizations. Most recently, they were a AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellow and Climate Change Specialist for the Millennium Challenge Corporation, a bilateral US foreign aid agency. Previously, Dr. Fencl worked on water and climate issues at Texas A&M University, Community Water Center, the California Governor’s Office of Planning and Research, UC Davis Center for Environmental Policy and Behavior, and the Stockholm Environment Institute.
Dr. Fencl earned a PhD in geography from UC Davis and a bachelor’s degree in international relations and environmental studies from Tufts University. They are available to speak about drought and other climate and water justice issues in California.
Selected publications
Dobbin, K.B., Fencl, A.L., Pierce, G., Beresford, M., Gonzalez, S., Jepson, W. (2023) Understanding perceived climate risks to household water supply and their implications for adaptation: evidence from California. Climatic Change.
Méndez-Barrientos, L.E. Fencl, A., Workman, C., Shah, S.H. (2022) “Race, Citizenship, and Belonging in the Pursuit of Water and Climate Justice in California” Environment and Planning E: Nature and Space
Klasic, M., Fencl, A., Ekstrom, J.E., Ford, A. (2022) “Adapting to Extreme Events: Small Drinking Water System Manager Perspectives on the 2012–2016 California Drought”. Climatic Change
Pace, C., Fencl, A., Baehner, L., Morello-Frosch, R., Cushing, L. J. (2022) “The Drinking Water Tool: A Community-Driven Data Visualization Tool for Policy Implementation”. Intl. Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Dobbin, K. and Fencl, A. (2021) “Institutional Diversity and Safe Drinking Water Provision in the United States” Utilities Policy.
Fernandez-Bou1, A.S., Ortiz-Partida, J.P., Classen-Rodriguez, L. M., Dobbin, K.B., Espinoza, V. , Rodríguez-Flores, J.M., Maskey, M. L., A. Fencl, et al. (2021) “3 challenges, 3 errors, and 3 solutions to integrate frontline communities in climate change policy and research: lessons from California” Frontiers in Climate.
London, J., Fencl, A., Watterson, S., Jarin, J., Seaton, P., Dawson, M., et al. (2021) “Disadvantaged Unincorporated Communities, Informality and the Struggle for Water Justice”. Water Alternatives.
Pauloo, R., Dahlke, H., Escriva-Bou, A., Fencl, A., Guillon, H., Fogg, G. (2020) “Domestic Well Vulnerability to Drought in California’s Central Valley”. Environmental Research Letters.