Degree type
PhD
Closing date
1 February 2025
Campus
Hobart
Citizenship requirement
Domestic
About the research project
As the impacts of climate change become more pronounced, a range of novel interventions is being investigated. These include carbon dioxide removal technologies, which remove and sequester atmospheric carbon, and solar radiation management technologies, which temporarily cool the planet by reflecting the sun's energy.
While some interventions may be local in scale, many will have global implications that require coordinated, harmonised implementation. International law is not currently adequate to govern these novel climate interventions, so a multiplication of national and sub-national legal frameworks is likely to fill the gap. States are likely to borrow horizontally from regulatory models developed elsewhere, but this alone does not promote the development of international law.
The aim of this PhD project is to evaluate how domestic law can provide lessons for international governance of climate intervention through a process of 'vertical legal borrowing.' Domestic governance provides opportunities for legal experimentation, where mechanisms can be tested and refined to inform the development of an international legal framework for climate intervention.
We invite proposals that examine the potential for such vertical legal borrowing of domestic regulatory exemplars for climate intervention technologies or technological analogues.
Primary Supervisor
Funding
Applicants will be considered for a Research Training Program (RTP) scholarship or Tasmania Graduate Research Scholarship (TGRS) which, if successful, provides:
- a living allowance stipend of $33,511 per annum (2025 rate, indexed annually) for 3.5 years
- a relocation allowance of up to $2,000
- a tuition fees offset covering the cost of tuition fees for up to four years (domestic applicants only)
If successful, international applicants will receive a University of Tasmania Fees Offset for up to four years.
As part of the application process you may indicate if you do not wish to be considered for scholarship funding.
Other funding opportunities and fees
For further information regarding other scholarships on offer, and the various fees of undertaking a research degree, please visit Scholarships and fees.
Eligibility
Applicants should review the Higher Degree by Research minimum entry requirements.
Ensure your eligibility for the scholarship round by referring to our Key Dates.
Additional eligibility criteria specific to this project/scholarship:
- Applicants must be able to undertake the project on-campus
- First Class Honours in Law or equivalent
Selection Criteria
The project is competitively assessed and awarded. Selection is based on academic merit and suitability to the project as determined by the College.
Additional desirable selection criteria specific to this project:
- Advanced understanding of international law
- Advanced understanding of climate intervention technologies or the governance of novel technologies
Application process
- Select your project, and check that you meet the eligibility and selection criteria, including citizenship;
- Contact Prof Jan McDonald to discuss your suitability and the project's requirements; and
- In your application:
- Copy and paste the title of the project from this advertisement into your application. If you don’t correctly do this your application may be rejected.
- Submit a signed supervisory support form, a CV including contact details of 2 referees and your project research proposal.
- Apply prior to 1 February 2025.
Full details of the application process can be found under the 'How to apply' section at Research degrees.
Following the closing date applications will be assessed within the College. Applicants should expect to receive notification of the outcome by email by the advertised outcome date.
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