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Durham Law School Secures Funding for JusTN0W Initiative

11 March 2024
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Durham Law school under a bright blue sky

Durham Law School is proud to announce the significant investment for an interdisciplinary project - Just Transitions to a Net Zero World (JusTN0W). JusTN0W seeks to accelerate the decarbonization of economies while fostering societal well-being for current and future generations.

The University has committed under the umbrella of its Strategic Research Fund (SRF) around £5 million over four years to this groundbreaking project The SRF aims to stimulate significant growth in research income for the University through substantial investments in our research community, capability and infrastructure. 

With the University’s generous investment, we seek to enhance our reputation and research by increasing our academic capacity and recruiting exceptional staff to join our institution, not only to generate significant growth in research income but also with a view to establishing robust pipelines of diverse talent.  

Led by Professors Petra Minnerop (Law), Laura Marsiliani (Economics), Dr John Bothwell (Biosciences), and Dr Nelly Bencomo (Computer Science), JusTN0W brings together experts from various disciplines to develop sustainable and just solutions for decarbonizing economies. This collaborative effort will play a pivotal role in forging the path towards a net-zero society.

The funding allows for the recruitment of ten new colleagues to join the project, significantly bolstering Durham's research capacity. The team of Co-Investigators includes Adebola Adeyemi (Law), Adefolake Adeyeye (Law), Smith Azubuike (Law), Ashar Aftab (Economics), Amir Atapour-Abarghouei (CS), Ashraf Osman (Engineering), Habib Rahman (Economics), Andrew Russell (Anthropology), Robert Song (Theology), Chris Stokes (Geography), Rozemarijn Roland Holst, Jia Wang (Law). 

The world is at a critical juncture, and JusTN0W acknowledges the urgent need for just transitions to combat climate change effectively. The initiative builds upon Durham University's existing expertise in researching the causes and impacts of climate change and aims to be a global leader in this transformative field. By integrating interdisciplinary research, JusTN0W seeks to accelerate the decarbonization of economies while fostering societal well-being for current and future generations.

Durham's Centre for Sustainable Development Law and Policy (CSDLP) has already played a significant role in feeding research across faculties into global governance frameworks, including under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement. The challenges at hand require expanded expertise and capacity. Through this investment, Durham University aims to rapidly position itself as a pioneering institution at the forefront of the green and digital transitions.

The JusTN0W initiative aligns with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and reaffirms Durham's commitment to global research excellence. It represents a unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact in finding just transition pathways and creating a sustainable future.

Durham Law School expresses its gratitude to the University and all those involved in making this essential funding a reality. By collaborating across disciplines and harnessing our collective expertise, we are confident that JusTN0W will yield groundbreaking solutions to address the climate crisis.

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