Kyla Tienhaara

Kyla Tienhaara

Associate Professor and Canada Research Chair in Economy and Environment Tier 2

PhD (Environmental Studies) Vrije Universiteit

Mackintosh-Corry Hall, A410

成人大片 University

Global Development Studies

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Curriculum Vitae (PDF 290 KB)

My research explores the impacts of economic globalization on environmental governance. My Canada Research Chair in Economy and Environment is focused on the opportunities that exist for a Green New Deal in Canada, the United States, and globally. This research involves case studies of 鈥榞reen鈥 investments at the national, provincial and state levels, as well as an examination of the capacity of global institutions to facilitate or constrain such initiatives. See further Related to this, I have a Mitacs Accelerate grant with the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) on 鈥淎 Green and Just Recovery? An Analysis of Energy Policies Adopted in Response to the COVID-19 Economic Crisis鈥 that involves summer (2021) internships for 6 graduate students to explore data in the Energy Policy Tracker. My SSHRC Insight Discovery Grant examines the role of Export Credit Agencies in financing fossil fuel projects and what intergovernmental initiatives exist to shift these entities to more sustainable investments. Finally, I have ongoing work on the impact of investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) on environmental governance.

When I have a funded position available for my CRC project, I post it at: Students are welcome to contact me to discuss other opportunities in relevant topic areas, such as:

  • Green new deals at the local, national, or global level
  • Critical examinations of green economy/green growth policies and projects
  • Explorations of alternative economic and development paradigms such as Buen Vivir and degrowth
  • Understanding employment in the green economy, including initiatives that would be needed to maintain full employment without growth (e.g., shorter working week, job sharing)
  • Just transitions
  • Fossil fuel subsidies and divestment
  • The role of global economic institutions (e.g., G20, OECD) in environmental governance
  • Trade and foreign investment agreements and the environment
  • Corporate power in global environmental politics

Joint Appointed with the School of Environmental Studies 

Canada Research Chair (CRC) in Economy and Environment Tier 2

Books:

K. Tienhaara and J. Robinson (eds.), forthcoming, The Routledge Handbook on the Green New Deal (London: Routledge).

K. Tienhaara, 2018, Green Keynesianism and the Global Financial Crisis (London: Routledge).

K. Tienhaara, 2009, The Expropriation of Environmental Governance: Protecting Foreign Investors at the Expense of Public Policy (Cambridge University Press).

Articles:

K. Tienhaara and J. Walker (forthcoming) 鈥淔ossil Capital, 鈥楿nquantifiable Risk鈥 and Neoliberal Nationalizations: The Case of the Trans Mountain Pipeline in Canada鈥 Geoforum.

K. Tienhaara, 2020, 鈥淏eyond Accountability: Alternative Rationales for Transparency in Global Trade Politics鈥 Journal of Environmental Policy and Planning 22(1): 112-124.

K. Tienhaara and L. Cotula, 2020, 鈥淩aising the cost of climate action? Investor-state dispute settlement and compensation for stranded fossil fuel assets鈥, International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), London.

K. Tienhaara (2019) 鈥淣AFTA 2.0: Good or Bad News for the Environment?鈥 Earth System Governance 1: 1-4.

K. Tienhaara and C. Downie, forthcoming, 鈥淩isky Business? The Energy Charter Treaty, Renewable Energy and Investor-State Disputes鈥, Global Governance.

K. Tienhaara, 2018, 鈥淩egulatory Chill in a Warming World: The Threat to Climate Change Policy Posed by Investor-State Dispute Settlement鈥, Transnational Environmental Law 7(2): 229-250.