Alessandro Monti

What do you research?

My main research interest is the interaction between climate change and international economic law, with special focus on the promotion of renewable energy. With regard to international economic law, I examine the respective role of trade and investment agreements and litigation to support the achievement of international climate goals. This includes research on renewable energy subsidies, border carbon adjustment, as well as climate-related investment disputes. Moreover, I analyze the regulatory framework for renewable energy sources and emerging technologies, e.g. Power-to-X, from an EU, national, and comparative perspective.

Why is it so important?

 The imperative of climate change mitigation not only requires international cooperation in global climate negotiations such as COP27. It also demands a synergistic interplay between different areas of law. International economic law plays a strategic role to support the achievement of emissions reduction goals. Both trade and investment agreements are increasingly becoming a vehicle to foster the development and commercialization of green technologies. At the same time, these agreements also pose considerable challenges to the green transition, due to a widespread lack of differentiation between climate-friendly and “brown” technologies. Legal research has a key role to play in engaging with relevant issues arising at the intersection between climate and economic law, while developing policy-oriented solutions to facilitate greener trade and investments.

A project you are proud of?

I am particularly proud of the project EnAct, which stands for Enhancing Climate Action through International Law. In this project, together with two colleagues from the Law Faculty, I look at how the interplay between human rights and international investment law can foster climate action. As part of this project, we are publishing an edited volume and convening an international conference in March 2023. Besides that, we also co-host The Climate Show, a podcast based on expert interviews, which aims at disseminating important developments in climate law and governance to a broader audience.

Updated November 2022

Through his participation in the Mary Centre’s Policy Fellowship, Alessandro has among others worked with Line Berg Madsen & Sune Fugleholm, Partners in Poul Schmith/ Kammeradvokaten (Policy Fellowship 2022-23 - Green Transition).