Mobilising political, legal and governance systems
How we regulate society, finance and economics, domestically and transnationally, is central to achieving sustainability objectives
Theme leads: Professor Veerle Hayvaert, Dr Joana Setzer, Professor Robert Falkner
Regulation must nudge, incentivise, and require private and public actors to move towards these goals whilst not fostering public and political backlash which undermines the advancement of these goals. This is a hugely difficulty endeavour, requiring broad awareness of different cross-jurisdictional regulatory modes, strategies, and trade-offs.
Activities within the mobilising political, legal and governance systems theme
The Sustainability Regulation Observatory (SRO)
The Sustainability Regulation Observatory, a joint venture between the LSE Law School and the Grantham Research Institute, is dedicated to advancing understanding of the regulatory foundations of sustainable societies. The Observatory will critically assess the effectiveness and unintended consequences of sustainability regulation worldwide, develop a cross-LSE database of expertise, publish accessible reports and academic research, and convene policymakers, business, civil society, and regulators to translate findings into impact. Students will play a central role through research assistantships and applied projects.
The Sustainability Law and Policy Clinic (SLPC)
The Sustainability Law and Policy Clinic (SLPC) offers students from across the LSE an opportunity to engage in real-world legal and policy work on pressing ecological issues.
Working in collaborative teams under the supervision of Dr Marie Petersmann, students tackle projects across GSoS’s three thematic pillars on (1) the Protection of Nature and Biodiversity; (2) Sustainable Finance and Business; and (3) Energy and Climate Change. Responsibilities range from providing legal guidance to affected communities, drafting policy reports in response to queries from environmental NGOs and charities, submitting memos to UN Special Rapporteurs, and preparing amicus briefs in environmental or climate litigation proceedings.
Through these activities, students gain hands-on experience through cross-disciplinary collaborations and external partnerships.
Priority areas
Both initiatives will focus on three priority areas:
- Protection of nature and biodiversity – aligned with the Protecting and Enhancing Nature and Biodiversity theme.
- Sustainable finance and business – aligned with the Creating Sustainable Finance and Business theme.
- Energy and climate change – building on GRI’s Climate Change Laws of the World and governance research.
Together, these initiatives will create an integrated hub for research, teaching, and real-world impact at the intersection of law, governance, and sustainability.
Through these activities - and more - this theme contributes to the overarching mission and aspirations of GSoS.
Veerle Heyvaert is Professor of Law and Associate Dean of LSE Law School. Joana Setzer is Associate Professorial Research Fellow at the Grantham Research Institute at LSE. Robert Falkner is is Professor of International Relations and the Academic Dean of the TRIUM Global Executive MBA.