Understanding Variation in Environmental Governance through Preferential Trade Agreements
The linkage and interdependence of trade and environmental issues poses significant challenges to global governance. Kennedy Mbeva's PhD thesis explores this theme by answering the following question: Why and how do countries link trade and environmental issues through Preferential Trade Agreements (PTAs)?
Using the concept of issue-linkage, Mr Mbeva develops and statistically analyses an original dataset drawn from about 500 PTAs, conducted between 1992 - 2015, to theorise this linkage at the PTA design level. He then undertakes a complementary case study analysis of the East African Community PTA to test the theory focusing on the linkage between trade and renewable energy issues at the implementation level. This PhD thesis will yield theoretical and policy insights into linkage of trade and environmental issues.
Kennedy Liti Mbeva is currently a PhD candidate at the School of Social and Political Sciences, and the Climate and Energy College, University of Melbourne. His PhD research examines the role of trade policy in global environmental governance. Kennedy has previously worked in public policy research and served in international climate diplomacy. He has also received several prestigious academic awards and recognition for his research, including the Green Talents Fellowship and the Lawrence S. Finkelstein Prize.