Kerryn Brent

Dr Kerryn Brent

Senior Lecturer

Adelaide Law School

Faculty of Arts, Business, Law and Economics

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD (as Co-Supervisor) - email supervisor to discuss availability.

Kerryn researches in the fields of international and environmental law, examining how legal systems can facilitate effective responses to climate change. Her research primarily focuses on the governance of emerging climate intervention technologies. These are proposals to reduce global temperatures by drawing carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere or by reflecting a percentage of sunlight away from the Earth. Leading scientists and international organisations indicate that carbon dioxide removal and/or solar radiation management will be essential to keep global mean temperatures with the range of 1.5-2oC necessary to avoid catastrophic climate change impacts. However, these proposals present significant environmental, geopolitical and social risks that require comprehensive governance at international and domestic levels. Kerryn’s research considers how legal systems can meet these governance challenges and contribute to responsible climate intervention research and implementation.

 In 2017, Kerryn was awarded her doctorate on the topic of customary international law and the governance of solar radiation management from the University of Tasmania. Since then, her research has also focused on the governance of marine SRM and CDR technologies.

Kerryn is a Deputy Director of the Australian Forum for Climate Intervention Governance https://www.utas.edu.au/climate-intervention-governance. Kerryn is also co-chair of the Australia and New Zealand Society of International Law Oceans and International Environmental Interest Group.

 

  • Journals
    Year Citation
    2022 Brent, K. (2022). Regulating Australia’s green hydrogen industry — objectives and challenges. Australian Environment Review, 36(6), 130.
    2021 Boettcher, M., Brent, K., Buck, H. J., Low, S., McLaren, D., & Mengis, N. (2021). Navigating Potential Hype and Opportunity in Governing Marine Carbon Removal. Frontiers in Climate, 3, 8 pages.
    DOI Scopus3
    2021 Keller, D. P., Brent, K., Bach, L. T., & Rickels, W. (2021). The Role of Ocean-based Negative Emission Technologies for Climate Mitigation. Frontiers in Climate, 3.
    DOI
    2020 Simon, M., Brent, K., McDonald, J., & McGee, J. (2020). Enhancing the Weather: Governance of Weather Modification Activities in Australia. Environmental and Planning Law Journal, 37(6), 698-719.
    Scopus1
    2020 McGee, J., Brent, K., McDonald, J., & Heyward, C. (2020). International Governance of Solar Radiation Management: Does the ENMOD Convention Deserve a Closer Look?. Carbon & Climate Law Review, 14(4), 294-305.
    DOI
    2020 Brent, K. A. (2020). Governance of Land-based Negative-emission Technologies to Promote Biodiversity Conservation: Lessons from Australia. Climate Law, 10(2), 123-150.
    DOI
    2019 Brent, K., & Tofighi, A. (2019). Climate Engineering and the Law. TRANSNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL LAW, 8(1), 197-202.
    DOI
    2019 McDonald, J., McGee, J., Brent, K., & Burns, W. (2019). Governing geoengineering research for the Great Barrier Reef. Climate Policy, 19(7), 801-811.
    DOI Scopus21 WoS23
    2018 McGee, J., Brent, K., & Burns, W. (2018). Geoengineering the oceans: an emerging frontier in international climate change governance. Australian Journal of Maritime and Ocean Affairs, 10(1), 67-80.
    DOI Scopus12
    2018 Brent, K., McGee, J., McDonald, J., & Rohling, E. (2018). International law poses problems for negative emissions research. Nature Climate Change, 8(6), 451-453.
    DOI Scopus10 WoS7
    2018 Gogarty, B. (2018). Glacier engineering must mind the law. NATURE, 560(7717), 167.
    DOI Europe PMC1
    2017 Brent, K. A. (2017). The Certain Activities1 case: What implications for the no-harm rule?. Asia Pacific Journal of Environmental Law, 20(1), 28-36.
    DOI Scopus2
    2015 Moore, N., Benmazhar, H., Brent, K., Du, H., Iese, V., Kone, S., . . . Zhuo, Z. (2015). Climate Engineering: Early Reflections on a Complex Conversation. Climate Law, 5(2-4), 295-301.
    DOI
    2015 Maguire, A., McGee, J., & Brent, K. (2015). Does the 'No-Harm' Rule Have a Role in Preventing Transboundary Harm and Harm to the Global Atmospheric Commons from Geoengineering?. Climate Law, 5(1), 35-63.
    DOI Scopus8
    2015 Brent, K., McGee, J., & McDonald, J. (2015). The governance of geoengineering: An emerging challenge for international and domestic legal systems?. Journal of Law, Information and Science, 24(1), 1-33.
    Scopus4
    2012 Brent, K., & McGee, J. (2012). The regulation of geoengineering: A gathering storm for international climate change policy?. Air Quality and Climate Change, 46(4), 22-27.

  • Book Chapters
    Year Citation
    2021 Brent, K. (2021). Solar Geoengineering is Prohibited under International Law. In B. Mayer, & A. Zahar (Eds.), Debating Climate Law (pp. 274-284). Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press.
    DOI
    2020 Brent, K. (2020). Marine geoengineering governance and the importance of compatibility with the law of the sea. In J. McDonald, J. McGee, & R. Barnes (Eds.), Research Handbook on Climate Change, Oceans and Coasts (pp. 442-460). Cheltenham, Glos., United Kingdom: Edward Elgar Publishing.
    DOI
    2018 Brent, K. (2018). Solar Radiation Management Geoengineering and Strict Liability for Ultrahazardous Activities. In N. Craik, C. S. G. Jefferies, S. L. Seck, & T. Stephens (Eds.), Global Environmental Change and Innovation in International Law (pp. 161-179). CAMBRIDGE UNIV PRESS.
    DOI WoS2
    2017 Brent, K., McGee, J., & McDonald, J. (2017). Negative emissions and geoengineering technologies: an emerging challenge for international and domestic legal systems. In A. A. de Carli, E. Aydos, & P. C. S. Avzaradel (Eds.), O Estado Regulador no Cenario Ambiental (pp. 406-466). Sao Paulo: Instituto Planeta Verde.

  • Report for External Bodies
    Year Citation
    2019 Brent, K., Burns, W., & McGee, J. (2019). Governance of Marine Geoengineering.

LAW 1507 Torts

LAW 2568 Climate Change Law

LAW 7178 Planning Law

LAW 4100/7181 Introduction to Environmental Law

LAW 2571 Law of the Sea

  • Position: Senior Lecturer
  • Phone: 83132878
  • Email: kerryn.brent@adelaide.edu.au
  • Campus: North Terrace
  • Building: Ligertwood, floor First Floor
  • Org Unit: Adelaide Law School
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