Dr Lisa Benjamin, GLF 2017-18

Dr Lisa Benjamin’s research investigates the intersection of international environmental law and climate risk from the perspective of developing countries, with a focus on small island developing states. She also researches areas involving non-state actors (including companies and institutional investors) and climate change. Her doctoral studies focused on carbon major companies, company law and climate change. Her research during the fellowship will investigate developing countries and climate change, with an emphasis on energy policy and capacity building.

She is an Assistant Professor in The University of The Bahamas’ LL.B. Programme where she teaches courses in environmental, trade, company and intellectual property law. She is a lawyer by training and was a member of the Compliance Committee (Facilitative Branch) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change from 2014-17, the Bahamas National Climate Change Committee, co-founder of the Climate Change Initiative at The University of The Bahamas and founder of the Environmental Law Clinic, a collaboration between The University of The Bahamas LL.B. programme and the Eugene Dupuch Law School.  She is also a director of the Bahamas Protected Areas Fund and has been an advisor to and member of the Bahamian national delegation to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

She holds and LL.B. from University College London, an LL.M. from the University of London, and a PhD in Law from Leicester University.

Publications

Lisa Benjamin, ‘Institutional Investors and Carbon Major Companies: Private Environmental Governance Post-Paris’ (forthcoming 2018) George Washington Journal of Energy and Environmental Law.

Thomas, A. and Benjamin, L. ‘Policies and Mechanisms to Address Climate-Induced Migration and Displacement in Pacific and Caribbean Small Island Developing States’ International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management, Special Issue, Climate Change, Migration and Displacement of Populations (2017).

Benjamin, L. ‘The Duty of Due Consideration in the Anthropocene: Climate Risk and English Directorial Duties’ Carbon and Climate Law Review 11(2) (2017) 90-99.

Thomas, A. and Benjamin, L. ‘Management of Loss and Damage in small island developing states: Implications of a 1.5°C or warmer world’ Regional Environmental Change, Special Issue, 1.5°C and Small Island Developing States (2017) DOI 10.1007/s10113-017-1184-7.

Benjamin, L. ‘The Responsibilities of Carbon Major Companies: Are They (and Is the Law) Doing Enough?' Transnational Environmental Law 5(2) (2016) 353-378.

Benjamin, L. and Thomas, A. ‘1.5 °C to stay alive? AOSIS and the long-term temperature goal in the Paris Agreement’ IUCN Academy of Environmental Law eJournal 7, (2016) 122-129

Op-eds

Climate change and corporate governance - a phased approach to smoothing temporal dissonance. Sustainable Market Actors for Responsible Trade. 6 July 2018