Our research

Responsible business

Business enterprises are critical to dealing with the triple planetary crisis and in turn contributing to building an inclusive and sustainable society. It is therefore vital to harness the potential of companies to secure a shared future for both people and the planet.

Researchers part of this stream grapple with issues such as:

• effective regulation of corporate conduct through various state- and market-based tools
• integrating climate considerations in corporate laws
• negotiating sustainable trade and investment agreements
• incentivising responsible business behaviour
• strengthening corporate accountability for environmental pollution and climate change.

Climate change

Climate change poses a serious threat to people and our planet’s ecosystems, triggering calls for urgent and decisive actions on the part of states and companies to limit global warming to 1.5°C in line with the Paris Agreement.

At the same time, a push to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions targets may negatively impact marginalised or vulnerable people, especially in the Global South. Similarly, there are risks that alternative energy sources may not be responsible.

Against this backdrop, researchers part of this stream focus on issues such as:

• sustainable consumption
• just transition
• role of business regarding climate mitigation, adaptation and resilience
• responsible alternative energy for a low-carbon economy
• climate justice.

Regenerative food systems

While the modern industrial food system produces vast quantities of food, it does so at significant cost to the environment, human health, animal welfare, human rights and global security.

Problems in the modern food system are particularly challenging because they are not limited to a single discipline, but rather span the social and physical sciences, technology, economics, trade, law, energy, population health, nutrition, education and global security.

Researchers part of this stream work on a range of problems such as:

• sustainable business
• the co-location of agricultural activities with renewable energy
• regulation of local knowledge and intellectual property rights in agriculture
• veganism, novel proteins, and agricultural extension
• urban agriculture, campus food gardens and food literacy.

We work with researchers both in Australia and overseas to help our food systems become more sustainable, just and beneficial for humans, animals and the planet.

Eco-justice

Amidst a planetary crisis that presents existential risks to humanity, nonhuman animals and ecosystems, the idea of justice dovetails with maintaining nonhuman nature vital to all life.

Humans are not the sole victims of environmental destruction. Therefore, the idea of justice – eco-justice specifically – should extend to all humans and other more-than-human species and ecosystems that share the planet.

Researchers part of this stream focus on conducting research around questions of accountability, both within and beyond the boundaries of international and domestic criminal law, for damaging the environment and the reorientation of law and legal concepts toward serving the notion of eco-justice.

Bangledesh program

The Centre’s developing partnership with the Government of Bangladesh since 2012 has resulted in significant academic output and policy reform impacts.

The Centre has:

• mentored HDR candidates from Bangladesh
• developed specific postgraduate courses for Bangladesh government officials to provide training in the area of sustainable governance
• provided extensive training programs to over 500 Bangladesh Civil Servants to develop skills in sustainable development, treaty interpretation, human rights, trade and environmental policy reform.

By equipping government officials with key skills, the Centre developed the advancement of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals within Bangladesh.

Indonesia program

The Centre’s engagement with Indonesian partners significantly contributed to the development of linkages in Indonesia, which is a priority country in Macquarie University’s international engagement strategy.

CEL has significantly contributed to Indonesia’s capacity to implement environmental law and policy reform, through collaboration with:

• the Indonesian Institute of Science (LIPI)
• Ministry of Forestry and Environment of the Government of Indonesia
• Gadjah Mada University.

We have also strengthened partnerships through MoU’s and networking between researchers, to ensure future collaboration.