Vertical Legal Borrowing

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

Meet Professor Jan McDonald

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 funded by University of Tasmania of $34,315 per annum 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)

A tuition fee offset may be offered to eligible international applicants following competitive assessment 

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 for undertaking a research degree, please visit our Scholarships and fees on research degrees page.

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

1. Select your project, and check that you meet the eligibility and selection criteria, including citizenship;
2. Contact Professor Jan McDonald to discuss your suitability and the project's requirements; and
3. 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.
4. Apply prior to 1 October 2026.

Full details of the application process can be found under the ' How to apply ' section of the Research Degrees website.

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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