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Many countries and international organizations are calling for a global approach to reducing greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping. Recently, the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI), in partnership with the Marine & Environmental Law Institute, held a day-long research-consultation workshop at The Prince George Hotel in Halifax to consider how the international maritime legal and governance frameworks can more effectively address climate change challenges in the international shipping sector and to explore research needs.

Attending the workshop, titled “Understanding the Challenge of Climate Change Regulation in Shipping,” were key stakeholders who offered their perspectives on how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Among them were Schulich School of Law Professors Meinhard Doelle, Aldo Chircop, and Phillip Saunders, all of whom specialize in relevant areas of marine and environmental law. Doelle and Chircop are co-leading an ongoing research project with CIGI on this topic.

Before Aldo and I decide how to focus our research, we wanted to get input into the law and governance topics that need to be researched. — Professor Meinhard Doelle

“I bring the international climate perspective, and Aldo brings his expertise on the international shipping sector,” says Doelle. “We had a very constructive discussion with all major stakeholders at the workshop. Before Aldo and I decide how to focus our research, we wanted to get input into the law and governance topics that need to be researched.”

‘Public interest is our goal’

CIGI is an independent, non-partisan think tank whose research programs focus on governance of the global economy, global security and politics, and international law in collaboration with a range of strategic partners and support from the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario, as well as founder Jim Balsillie.

CIGI’s International Law Research Program (ILRP) funds full-time resident and part-time external fellows to undertake research and educational and mentoring activities contributing to the program’s research agenda.

The ILRP is focused on four streams of global governance and law: economic law, environmental law, Indigenous law, and intellectual property law and innovation. On March 7, CIGI’s International Law Research Program director, Oonagh Fitzgerald, spoke to Schulich Law faculty members and Dean Camille Cameron about the myriad collaboration opportunities between CIGI and the law school.

“Public interest is our goal,” said Fitzgerald. “We aim to develop capacity and leadership in international law to contribute to building an innovative, sustainable, equitable, peaceful, and prosperous global community.”

A lot of people come to us, but their project has to fit with something we want to do. There are lots of opportunities for collaboration. — Oonagh Fitzgerald, CIGI's International Law Research Program director

Also speaking at the Schulich Law meeting were Markus Gehring, CIGI’s deputy director of international economic law, and Silvia Maciunas, deputy director of international environmental law. Dean Cameron asked about the different ways law schools can interact with CIGI.

“A lot of people come to us, but their project has to fit with something we want to do,” said Fitzgerald. “We have to ask ourselves, what’s it in for us? What’s in it for the academics? We’re keen to enter into dialogue with faculties across Canada. There are lots of opportunities for collaboration, like we’re doing with Meinhard and Aldo.”

Doelle is looking forward to helping to organize two more CIGI research-consultation workshops on international shipping between now and March 2018 to receive further input into their research. “Through this collaboration, I think we have the ability to find an effective way to regulate the industry and to achieve the climate goals in the Paris Agreement.”