Abidah Setyowati's work focuses broadly on critical climate change studies, neoliberal environments, natural resources management and climate governance, indigenous politics, forest tenure reform and gender perspectives in these issues.  With RegNet, her research covers energy governance and climate finance. She has carried out studies on issues of forest access, biodiversity conservation, indigenous politics and local development as they relate to global climate policies (ie. REDD+ and Payment for Ecosystem Services). Prior to joining ANU, she has carried out advisory works and held positions with UNDP, FAO, USAID, ADB, DFID, UNEP-ROAP and other international/multilateral agencies. 

Her research has been supported by numerous grants and awards, such as APIP Research Development Award (2020-2021), APIP Research Excellence Award (2019-2020), the National Science Foundation – Dissertation Improvement Grant/NSF DDIG (2011-2013), UNDP Human Development Fellowship (2011-2013), Margaret McNamara Award (2013-2014), and Louise Bevier Dissertation Completion Fellowship (2013-2014) and Fulbright Fellowship (2008-2011).

• Politics and policy, natural resources and climate governance
• Neoliberal environment
• Energy governance
• Energy Access
• Climate finance
• Climate change mitigation, REDD+, PES
• Critical development
• Gender

Ecosystem Services: Valuing Nature for A Green Economy and Sustainable Development (Valnat Research Project - 2017-2019)

Harnessing Financial Markets and Institutional Investment to Increase the Take Up of Renewable Energy in Asia-Pacific (2018-2020)

Depi Susilawati (PhD Student at Fenner School of Environment and Society). Timber legality verification in Indonesian market chains (panel member)

Hilman Fathoni (2019) 'Actor Dynamics and Social Dimensions of Rural Renewable Energy Projects in Sumba, Indonesia" , Master of Energy Change candidate, (co-supervisor).