Jack Travers

The Intersection of International Environmental Law, Techno-Fixes and the Regulation of Geoengineering: is Environmental Law up to the Task?

As the climate crisis deepens, traditional methods of emissions reductions have failed to correct the trend of global warming. In response, calls for the adoption of novel technological means, specifically geoengineering, have gained momentum across both political and scientific spheres. My research focuses on the regulation of geoengineering from several angles. Primarily, I am focussed on the conceptual underpinnings of the international legal system in regards the regulation of and interpretation of techno-fixes. Using Alf Hornborg’s money-energy-technology critique of the global societal structure, I aim to explore in what ways are techno-fixes entrenches within international law and in what ways does the dominant conceptualisation of technology influence regulatory mechanisms for novel technologies such as geoengineering. Additionally, I adopt a traditional doctrinal approach to analyse in lieu of an overarching agreement on the regulation and use of geoengineering, if the existing principles of international environmental law are robust enough to effectively manage and regulate geoengineering.

Supervisors - Dr Saskia Vermeylen and Dr Antonio Cardesa-Salzmann

Email - jack.travers.2018@uni.strath.ac.uk