Kyla Tienhaara
Associate Professor and Canada Research Chair in Economy and Environment Tier 2
PhD (Environmental Studies) Vrije Universiteit
Mackintosh-Corry Hall, A410
Queen's University
Global Development Studies
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 âgreenâ 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 âA Green and Just Recovery? An Analysis of Energy Policies Adopted in Response to the COVID-19 Economic Crisisâ 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) âFossil Capital, âUnquantifiable Riskâ and Neoliberal Nationalizations: The Case of the Trans Mountain Pipeline in Canadaâ Geoforum.
K. Tienhaara, 2020, âBeyond Accountability: Alternative Rationales for Transparency in Global Trade Politicsâ Journal of Environmental Policy and Planning 22(1): 112-124.
K. Tienhaara and L. Cotula, 2020, âRaising the cost of climate action? Investor-state dispute settlement and compensation for stranded fossil fuel assetsâ, International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), London.
K. Tienhaara (2019) âNAFTA 2.0: Good or Bad News for the Environment?â Earth System Governance 1: 1-4.
K. Tienhaara and C. Downie, forthcoming, âRisky Business? The Energy Charter Treaty, Renewable Energy and Investor-State Disputesâ, Global Governance.
K. Tienhaara, 2018, âRegulatory Chill in a Warming World: The Threat to Climate Change Policy Posed by Investor-State Dispute Settlementâ, Transnational Environmental Law 7(2): 229-250.