International Environmental Law Research Program

• Overview of research
• Teaching and research supervision
• Current research and writing
• Program publications
• Seminars
• Public policy submissions
• People
• Feedback and contacts

Overview of research

Research within the International Environmental Law Program spans a range of areas of public international law concerning environmental and natural resource issues.

The program’s central purpose is to enhance our understanding of international environmental governance and the role of international norms in this process. It brings together researchers with an interest and specialisation not only in a number of areas of international environmental law but also in global environmental politics.

Associates of the program are particularly active in the following research areas:

• structures and processes of regional and global environmental governance;
• the resolution of disputes over the environment and natural resources;
• ethical and philosophical issues concerning international norms for environmental management and protection;
• the law of global climate change;
• marine environmental protection; and
• the protection of the Antarctic environment.

Current research projects underway within this program are set out below.

Teaching and research supervision

Associates of this program are involved in the teaching of a wide range of subjects addressing issues of international environmental law in both the undergraduate and the postgraduate programs. Associates of this program are also active in research supervision in the field of international environmental law.

Those interested in pursuing postgraduate research with associates of this program, particularly research with a multi-disciplinary orientation, are encouraged to seek further information through the Faculty's Postgraduate Research office and/or to contact any individual listed below who are working in the area of interest.

Current research and writing

Research and writing projects currently underway under the direction of Faculty members associated with this program include the following (listed in alphabetical order):

• Australia’s Extended Continental Shelf: What Implications for Antarctica? (Dr Alan D Hemmings and Dr Tim Stephens)
• Climate Change and Australia: Warming to the Global Challenge (Dr Jane McAdam, Dr Ben Saul and Dr Tim Stephens)
• Developing a Legal Framework for Indonesia’s participation in an Internationally Sanctioned scheme for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation (and Degradation) (Dr Simon Butt, Professor Elisabeth Peden, Associate Professor Rosemary Lyster, Dr Kate Miles and Dr Tim Stephens)
• International Law Documents on Antarctica (Professor Gillian Triggs, Dr Ben Saul and Dr Tim Stephens)
• International Law of the Sea (Professor Donald R Rothwell and Dr Tim Stephens)
• Intersections Between Global Climate Change Law and Policy (Associate Professor Rosemary Lyster and Dr Tim Stephens)
• Power and Rule in the Mekong Basin: The Dynamics of Hard and Soft Law in International Watercourse Governance (Professor Phil Hirsch, Dr Fleur Johns, Dr Ben Saul and Dr Tim Stephens)
• Responding to the Threat of Ocean Acidification: An Acid Test for International Law (Dr Tim Stephens)
• Polar Oceans Governance (Professor David VanderZwaag and Dr Tim Stephens)

Publications

In addition to the publications listed in the Publications page, Associates in this program are responsible for editing the Australian International Law Journal under the General Editorship of Dr Ben Saul. Associates in this program are also annual contributors to the case notes section of the Australian Yearbook of International Law.

Seminars

Associates of this program and Visitors are active contributors to the Seminar program of the Sydney Centre for International Law.

Public policy submissions

Associates of this program frequently make oral and written submissions to inquiries by parliamentary committees, departmental reviews and law reform bodies on various aspects of international environmental law and related public policy issues.

People

Sydney Centre for International Law Associates contributing to this program are (in alphabetical order): Emeritus Professor Ben Boer, Associate Professor Chester Brown, Dr Charlotte Epstein, Dr Fleur Johns, Professor David Kinley, Associate Professor Rosemary Lyster, Ms Kate Miles, Dr Ben Saul, Emeritus Professor Ivan Shearer, Ms Susan Shearing, Dr Tim Stephens and Professor Gillian Triggs.

The Program Director is Dr Tim Stephens.

Sydney Centre for International Law Affiliates contributing to this program are: Dr Jane McAdam, Dr Melissa Perry QC, Ms Alison Pert and Dr Christopher Ward.

Feedback and contacts

Comments about the program are welcome, as are expressions of interest in research collaboration. Please contact Dr Tim Stephens at or .