Mark Buntaine | UC Santa Barbara Bren - Bren School of Environment

Professor

Address

Bren Hall 4422

Phone

Email

buntaine@bren.ucsb.edu

Research Areas

Environmental Institutions and Governance

Bren Courses Taught

ESM 208 Environmental Politics and Policy

ESM 512 Research Ethics and Conduct

ESM 526 Environmental Politics Workshop

Instructor Code

27

Education

PhD, Environmental Politics & Policy/Research Methods, Duke University
MS, Sustainable Development and Conservation Biology, University of Maryland
BA, Political Science and Chinese, Wake Forest University

Bio

Mark Buntaine investigates how improved governance can support the implementation of environmental policies in low- and middle-income countries. In the past several years, he led experimental projects that tested whether citizen participation in policy implementation improved solid waste services, reduced air and water pollution, and strengthened forest management. He collaborates with and advises governmental and non-governmental partners on the effective implementation of environmental policies, with a focus on designing institutions that ensure governments are accountable to the people they serve.

News about Mark Buntaine

News

Shanghai City Air Pollution

Can Government Transparency Policies Help Reduce Pollution and Improve Public Health?

A landmark study by UCSB Bren School faculty Sarah Anderson and Mark Buntaine finds that publicly rating local governments on pollution transparency led to long-term improvements in air quality and regulatory enforcement in China.

The skyline of Shanghai at sunset reflected over a river.

The People’s Waterways

Citizen volunteers monitoring polluted waterways reveal how public data and government accountability can drive real environmental improvements, offering new insight into combating water pollution and empowering communities.

A person stands at a riverside railing looking toward a city skyline shrouded in heavy smog.

The Real Influencers

NGO-led transparency drives accountability. Public performance ratings significantly increase government compliance with environmental policies, demonstrating how independent monitoring strengthens governance and improves on-the-ground outcomes.

A hand places a blank ballot into a ballot box against a stylized background with a large orange circle and a blue, textured sky.

Mobile Accountability

A study tests whether simple text messages revealing local government corruption can empower citizens, shift voting behavior, and improve public services, showing how mobile technology strengthens accountability in developing countries.

PhD Candidates in Mark Buntaine's Research Group

People

Yifan He

PhD Student

Research Areas:

Environmental politics, land system science, biodiversity conservation, land governance, land use change