Qualification Type: PhD
Location: Colchester
Funding for: UK Students, Self-funded Students
Funding amount: Living costs stipend at the UK Research and Innovation recommended level per year. The stipend for 2024-25 is £19,237. The rate for 2025-26 TBA.
Hours: Full Time
Placed On: 21st November 2024
Closes: 7th February 2025
Reference: 11361 Business_Law October 2025
Project Overview
Climate change risk is unevenly borne globally by the more vulnerable, principally from developing economies. This inequality gives prominence to the notion of a ‘just transition’. However, the emergence of the concept of a ‘just transition’ in relation to developing economies has continued to attract discourses that challenge the dominant discourses of the Global North which are arguably based on existing dominant structures (e.g., capitalism, economic growth, technology, politics). Central to discourses challenging the status quo or incremental change, is the need for a deliberate and concerted adoption of transformative approaches to achieve a just transition. Similarly, legal frameworks, including human rights and sustainability principles, strive to create ‘just’ responses, yet the gap towards achieving a just transition appears to be widening. Consequently, this study will explore those (conflicting) perspectives from key stakeholders and relevant legal frameworks to explore action-based alternatives for achieving a transformative just transition.
Interdisciplinary Focus and Methods
The collaboration between Essex Business School and Essex Law School will contribute to better understandings of the roles that dominant discourses and counter discourses play in constructing climate change problems and solutions, and how legal frameworks (including through human rights or environmental sustainability principles) serve as adequate interventions to address global challenges. Qualitative and legal doctrinal research methods will be adopted to gain in-depth insights into the way that relevant stakeholders frame just transitions in the context of developing economies.
Person Specification
This opportunity would suit a candidate with a degree/ background in sustainability, social and environmental accounting, corporate social responsibility, accountability, particularly with interests in climate change and qualitative research methodologies (e.g., in terms of theorisation, research design as well as data collection and analysis).
It is not necessary for the candidate to have prior training in environmental law and legal methodologies as this will be provided on the programme.
