International regulatory regimes are inherently polycentric, emerging through the efforts of a wide range of regulators from diverse locations and sectors. Regulatory scholars often investigate these mechanisms and their implications. But what if we found ourselves in a position to potentially influence the emergence of a regime in real time? What would we recommend? What theoretical or methodological approaches could we draw on to develop such recommendations? These are the questions posed by Emma Aisbett’s seminar.

Framing for these questions is the important and timely issue of the emerging regime for product embedded emissions accounting. This regime underpins a wide range of public and private decarbonisation initiatives - from CBAMs to green procurement - but fragmentation of the regime threatens its ability to be effective, efficient, or legitimate. Collaboration is touted as the answer – but how do we collaborate to achieve a high-performance regime?

About the speaker

Emma Aisbett is Associate Professor at the ANU College of Law, Governance and Policy, as well as Research Lead of the ‘Facilitating Transformation’ Program at the Heavy Industry Low-carbon Transition Cooperative Research Centre (HILT CRC). Emma’s current research centres on reforming and developing the international trade and investment regimes to better align them with climate objectives. She is recognised as a global thought leader on the topic of reducing fragmentation and improving interoperability of product embedded emissions accounting standards and frameworks. 

Emma collaborates and provides expertise to Australian government, industry and CSO community, as well as major global organisations including the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, World Economic Forum, WWF, OECD, and UN Commission on Trade and Development. On the topic of product carbon accounting and standards, she is a member of expert advisory groups for the ISO-GHG Protocol collaboration, the Industrial Deep Decarbonization Initiative, and Responsible Steel. Emma is also a judge of the Eureka Prize for Sustainability Research.

This seminar presentation is an in-person only event. 

Light lunch will be provided. 

If you require accessibility accommodations or a visitor Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan please email regnet.communications@anu.edu.au.

Image credit: Crawford School of Public Policy, ANU