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Wil Burns

Associate Director

Biography

Dr. Wil Burns is also the Founding Co-Director of the Institute for Responsible Carbon Removal at American University’s School of International Service in Washington, DC. 

Previously, he served as the founding Co-Executive Director of the Forum for Climate Engineering Assessment, a scholarly initiative of the School of International Service at American University. He also served as the Director of the Energy Policy & Climate program at Johns Hopkins University in Washington, DC. Prior to becoming an academic, he served as Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs for the State of Wisconsin and worked in the non-governmental sector for twenty years, including as Executive Director of the Pacific Center for International Studies, a think-tank that focused on implementation of international wildlife treaty regimes, including the Convention on Biological Diversity and International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling. 

He is also the former President of the Association for Environmental Studies & Sciences, and former Co-Chair of the International Environmental Law interest group of the American Society of International Law and Chair of the International Wildlife Law Interest group of the Society. He also served as founder and Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of International Wildlife Law & Policy and is the founding Editor-in-Chief of Case Studies in the Environment. He is also a Senior Research Fellow for the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI), and Co-Chair of the International Environmental Law Committee of the American Branch of the International Law Association. 

He has published over 80 articles and chapters in law, science, and policy journals and books, and has co-edited four books. He holds a Ph.D. in International Environmental Law from the University of Wales-Cardiff School of Law. His current areas of research focus are: climate geoengineering, climate loss and damage, and the effectiveness of the European Union’s Emissions Trading System. 

Publications:  

Edited Books 

  • Geo-Engineering the Climate: Law, Ethics and Policy Considerations (William C.G. Burns & Andrew Strauss, eds., 2013, Cambridge University Press)
  • Adjudicating the Climate: International and National Causes of Action on Climate Change (William C.G. Burns & Hari Osofsky, editors, 2009, Cambridge University Press)
  • The Future of Cetaceans in a Changing World, (William C.G. Burns & Alexander Gillespie editors, 2003, Transnational Publishers)
  • Topical Editor, Water Organizations and Library Resources section, Encyclopedia of Water Science (B.A. Stewart & Terry Howell eds., 2003, Marcel Dekker)
  • Climate Change in the South Pacific: Impacts and Responses in Australia, New Zealand, and Small Island States (Alexander Gillespie & William C.G. Burns, eds., 2000, Kluwer Academic Publishers) 

Journal Articles 

  • William Burns, Agroforestry: Enhancing the Prospects for Ameliorating Climate Change, 1 Earth Matters 3-27 (2024)
  • Wil Burns, Governance of Ocean-Based Carbon Dioxide Removal Research under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, 75(1) University of Maine Law Review 38-70 (2023)
  • Wil Burns, The Aspen Institute’s Guidance for Ocean-based Carbon Dioxide Removal Projects, 17(1) Journal of Ocean Technology vi-vii (2022)
  • M. Honneger, W. Burns & D.R. Morrow, Is carbon dioxide removal ‘mitigation of climate change’?, 30(3) Review of European Community & International Environmental Law 327-35 (2021)

  • Antacids for the Sea? Artificial Ocean Alkalinization and Climate Change, 3(2) One Earth (2020) (co-author, Charles Corbett)

  • Climate Geoengineering under the Paris Agreement, 43(12) Environmental Law Reporter (2019) (lead author: Neil Craik)
  • Governing geoengineering research for the Great Barrier Reef, 19 Climate Policy (lead author: Jan McDonald) (2019)
  • Geoengineering the Oceans: An Emerging Frontier in International Climate Change Governance, 15 Australian Journal of Maritime & Ocean Affairs (2018) (lead author: Jeffrey McGee)
  • The European Union’s Emissions Trading System: Climate Policymaking Model, or Muddle?, Part 2, 31 Tulane Environmental Law Journal (2017)
  • Bioenergy and Carbon Capture with Storage (BECCS): The Prospects and Challenges of an Emerging Climate Policy Response, Journal of Environmental Studies & Sciences (2017) (co-author: Simon Nicholson)
  • The Asia-Pacific’s role in the emerging solar geoengineering debate, Climatic Change (2017) (lead author: Masahiro Sugiyama)
  • The Case for Case Studies in Confronting Environmental Issues, 1 Case Studies in the Environment (2017)
  • The European Union’s Emissions Trading System: Climate Policymaking Model, or Muddle?, Part 1, 31 Tulane Environmental Law Journal (2017)
  • The Thirteenth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, American Bar Association, International Law Section, SEER Year in Review for Climate Change, Sustainable Development and Ecosystems (2017)
  • Loss and Damage and the 21st Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, 22(2) ILSA Journal of International & Comparative Law (2016)
  • Climate Geoengineering and the Role of Public Deliberation: A Comment on the US National Academy of Sciences’ Recommendations on Public Participation, 5(2-4) Climate Law (2015) (co-author: Jane Flegal)
  • Introduction: Climate Geoengineering, 2 Carbon & Climate Law Review (2013)
  • Geoengineering the Climate: An Overview of Solar Radiation Management Options, 46(2) Tulsa Law Review (2012)
  • Climate Geoengineering: Solar Radiation Management and its Implications for Intergenerational Equity, IV Stanford Journal of Law, Science & Policy (2011)
  • Belt and Suspenders?, The World Heritage Convention’s Role in Confronting Climate Change, 18 Review of European Community & International Environmental Law (2009)
  • (Multiple authors, lead author: Phaedra Doukakis) Gaining Traction: Retreading the Wheels of Marine Conservation, 23(4) Conservation Biology (2009)
  • (Multiple authors, lead author:  Chris Parsons), Navy Sonar and Cetaceans: Just how Much Does the Gun Need to Smoke Before We Act?, 56(7) Marine Pollution Bulletin (2008)
  • A Voice for the Fish? Climate Change Litigation and Potential Causes of Action for Impacts under the United Nations Fish Stocks Agreement, 48(1) Santa Clara Law Review  (2008)
  • Warming Up to Climate Change Litigation?, Santa Clara Lawyer (Fall 2007)
  • Potential Causes of Action for Climate Change Impacts under the United Nations Fish Stocks Agreement, VII(2) Sustainable Development Law & Policy 34-41 (2007)
  • International Environmental Law (portion of ABA International Law & Practice’s annual review of international law developments), 41 International Lawyer (Summer 2006)
  • Potential Causes of Action for Climate Change Damages in International Fora: The Law of the Sea, 2(1) International Journal of Sustainable Development Law & Policy (2006)
  • Nature Conservation: Natural Lands and Biological Diversity – Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, 16 Yearbook of International Law (2005)
  • The Potential Implications of Climate Change for the Coastal Resources of Pacific Island Developing Countries and Potential Legal and Policy Responses, 8(1) Harvard Asia-Pacific Review (2005)
  • Introduction to Special Issue on the Precautionary Principle and its Operationalization in International Environmental Regimes and Domestic Policymaking, 5(1-2) International Journal of Global Environmental Issues 1-9 (2005)
  • Climate Change and Migratory Species, in 25 Years of Journey, Convention on Migratory Species, A Special Report to Mark the Silver Anniversary of the Bonn Convention on Migratory Species (1979-2004) (2004)
  • The Berlin Initiative on Strengthening the Conservation Agenda of the International Whaling Commission: Toward a New Era for Cetaceans?, 14 Review of European Community & International Environmental Law 72-85 (2004)
  • The Exigencies That Drive Potential Causes of Action for Climate Change Damages at the International Level, 98 American Society of International Law Proceedings 223 (2004)
  • A Growing Concern: The Potential Impacts of Climate Change on Agriculture, 8(2) Global Change (Summer, 2002)
  • Climate Change and Human Health: The Critical Policy Agenda, 287(17) Journal of the American Medical Association (MS section) (May 1, 2002)
  • The 53rd Meeting of the International Whaling Commission and the Future of Cetaceans in a Changing World, 11(4) Review of European Community & International Environmental Law (2002) (co-author: Geoffrey Wandesforde-Smith)
  • Working with the Limitations and Frustrations in a Treaty-Based Approach to International Environmental Problem Solving, in International Environmental Law and Policy (David Hunter, James Salzman, & Durwood Zaelke, eds., 2d ed., Foundation Press, 2002) (co-authors: Kate O’Neill [lead author] & Geoffrey Wandesforde-Smith)
  • Baking Bogs: Climate Change Releases Stored Carbon, 7(1) Global Change, Spring, 2001
  • Are Sinks Sunk?, 6(4) Global Change (Winter, 2000)
  • Climate Change and Its Possible Impact on Small Island States, 6(3) Global Change, (Fall, 2000)
  • From the Harpoon to the Heat: Climate Change, the Future of Cetaceans, and the Role of the International Whaling Commission, 13(2) Georgetown International Environmental Law Review (Fall, 2000)
  • The Possible Impact of Climate Change on Pacific Island Nation Ecosystems, 6(2) Asia-Pacific Journal of Environment & Development (2000)
  • Biosafety Resources on the Internet, 3(3) Biodiversity, (Summer 2000)
  • The Agreement on the Conservation of Cetaceans of the Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea and Contiguous Atlantic Area: Problems and Prospects, 1(1) Journal of International Wildlife Law & Policy (Summer 1998)
  • The 49th Meeting of the International Whaling Commission: Problems and Prospects, 3 Colorado Yearbook of International Environmental Law (Spring 1998)
  • The Heat is On: What Can We Expect at the 3rd Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change?, Greenline (Spring, 1997)
  • The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Future of Small Island States, 14 Dickinson Journal of Environmental Law & Policy (Spring, 1997)
  • The Second Review Conference of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, 2 Colorado Yearbook of International Environmental Law (Spring, 1997)
  • European Implementation of CITES and the Proposal for a Council Regulation (EC) on the Protection of Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, 8 Georgetown International Environmental Law Review (Spring, 1997)
  • The International Whaling Commission: Improving the Prospects for Large Cetaceans in the Next Century, 15 Colorado Journal of International Environmental Law & Policy (Winter, 1996)
  • From the Lance to the Laboratory: The Impact of Anthropogenic Environmental Degradation on Cetacean Species, 10 Sea Winds (3) (Fall, 1996)
  • The Habitat II Conference and the Future of Cities, Greenline, (Spring, 1996)
  • Global Warming: More Heat than Light, The Muirview, (Jan./Feb. 1996)
  • Global Warming And The United Nations Framework On Climate Change (co-author: William J. Weiner), in International Environmental Law: Cases And Materials (2nd Edition, 1996)
  • CITES and the Regulation of the Taking of Sharks, Species, (Spring, 1995)
  • The Potential Impact of Climate Change on Penguin Species, Penguin Conservation, (July, 1995)
  • The International Convention To Combat Desertification: Drawing A Line In The Sand?, Michigan Journal Of International Law (Spring, 1995)
  • The International Whaling Commission and the Regulation of Consumptive and Non-Consumptive Uses of Small Cetaceans: The Critical Agenda for the 1990s, Wisconsin International Law Journal (Fall, 1994)
  • Stopping the Feeding Frenzy: How Can We Save The Shark,? 15 Environmental Awareness (July, 1992)
  • Recycled Paper: A Reality Check, Part II, NAPEC Quarterly, (May, 1991)
  • Recycled Paper: A Reality Check, Part I, NAPEC Quarterly, (March, 1991)
  • The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species and the Rhinoceros, 13 Environmental Awareness (May, 1991)
  • The Report of the Secretary General on Transnational Corporations and Industrial Process Safety: A Critical Appraisal, 3 Georgetown International Environmental Law Review (Summer, 1990)
  • The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species and International Trade in Flora: A Critical Appraisal, 8 Dickinson Journal Of International Law (1990)
  • The Decline of the Elephant: Improving the CITES Framework, 12 Environmental Awareness (March, 1989)
  • Asian Compliance with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna, 29 Indian Journal of International Law (1989)
  • The Second Review Conference of the Biological Weapons Convention: One Step Forward, Many More to Go, P.C.I.S. International Security Occasional Paper Series, No. 5 (1988)
  • The Legality of Nuclear Weapons under International Law, P.C.I.S. International Security Occasional Paper Series, No. 3 (1988)
  • Asian Compliance with CITES: Problems and Prospects, 5(2) Boston University International Law Journal (1987) 

Book Chapters/Sections

  • Duncan McClaren, Wil Burns, Debate 9: Negative-Emission Technologies -It Would Be Irresponsible, Unethical, and Unlawful to Rely on NETs at Large Scale Instead of Mitigation, Debating Climate Law (Co-author, and lead author: Duncan McLaren) (Cambridge University Press, 2021)
  • Wil Burns, The Law of Climate Carbon Dioxide Removal, Law of Environmental Protection (ELI, Thomson-Reuters, 2021)
  • Human Rights Dimensions of Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage: A Framework for Climate Justice in the Realm of Climate Geoengineering, Climate Justice: Case Studies in Global and Regional Challenges (Abate, ed., Environmental Law Institute Press, 2016)
  • Climate Geoengineering: Promise or Peril on a New Earth?, New Earth Politics (Nicholson & Jinnah, eds., MIT Press, 2016) (co-author: Simon Nicholson)
  • Sites for Sore Eyes: The World Heritage Convention and the Specter of Climate Change, in Climate Change Law and Policy: A Reader (William Rodgers & Michael Robinson-Dorn, editors, Carolina Academic 2010)
  • The Exigency for Climate Change Litigation, Adjudicating the Climate: International and National Causes of Action on Climate Change (William C.G. Burns & Hari Osofsky, eds., Cambridge University Press, 2009)
  • Anthropogenic Carbon Dioxide Emissions and Ocean Acidification: The Potential Impacts on Ocean Biodiversity, in Saving Biological Diversity: Balancing Protection of Endangered Species and Ecosystems (Springer 2008)
  • Trade Liberalization and Global Environmental Governance: The Potential for Conflict, in Handbook of Environmental Politics (Edward Elgar, 2005) (co-author and lead author: Kate O’Neill)
  • The Potential Impacts of Climate Change on Cetaceans, in The Future of Cetaceans in a Changing World, (William C.G. Burns & Alexander Gillespie editors, 2003, Transnational Publishers)
  • The Potential Impacts of Climate Change on the Freshwater Resources of Pacific Island Developing Countries, in The World’s Water (Peter H. Gleick, ed., Volume 3, Island Press, 2002)
  • The Impact of Climate Change on Pacific Island Developing Countries, in Climate Change in the South Pacific: Impacts and Responses in Australia, New Zealand, and Small Island States (Alexander Gillespie & William C.G. Burns, eds., 2000, Kluwer Academic Publishers) 

Encyclopedia Entries 

  • Geoengineering, Climate Change: An Encyclopedia of Science and History (ABC-Clio 2012)
  • Carbon Capture and Sequestration, Green Issues and Debates  (Sage 2011)
  • Carbon Taxes to Address Climate Change, The Green Series: Toward a Sustainable Environment, Volume I: Green Energy (Sage 2010)
  • The Impacts of Globalization on Biodiversity, Encyclopedia of Globalization (R. Robertson & J.A. Scholte, editors, Routledge 2006) 

Reports, Position Papers, Contributions to Proceedings

  • Wil Burns & Shuchi Talati, The Solar Geoengineering Ecosystem: Key Actors Across the Landscape of the Field, Report of the Alliance for Just Deliberation on Solar Geoengineering & The Forum on Climate Engineering Assessment (2023)
  • (Contributing author) Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement: Current state of knowledge and potential role of philanthropy, September 9th, 2019 Meeting Proceedings (2019)
  • Marine Geoengineering Governance, Center for International Governance Innovation, Special Report (2019) (in press)
  • A Response to Reynolds, et. al., Five Solar Geoengineering Tropes that have Outstayed their Welcome, FCEA Comments Paper (November 2016)
  • Climate Engineering under the Paris Agreement: A Legal & Policy Primer, Centre for International Governance Innovation, Special Report, Nov. 1, 2016 (co-author: A. Neil Craik)
  • The Paris Agreement and Climate Geoengineering Governance: The Need for a Human Rights-Based Component, Centre for International Governance Innovation Papers, No. 111 (October, 2016)
  • (Co-author with other committee members), Legal Principles Related to Climate Change, Report of the International Law Association, Climate Change Law Committee (2014)
  • (Co-author with other committee members), Terms in the 1982 U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea or in Convention Analysis that the Convention Does Not Define, Report of the International Law Association (American Branch), Law of the Sea Committee (2007)
  • William C.G. Burns & Mark Simmonds, Precautionary Principle Guidelines: Progress Report, Scientific Committee, Agreement on the Conservation of Cetaceans of the Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea and Contiguous Atlantic Area, CS2/Doc17 (2003)

Book Reviews 

  • International Law: Cases and Materials (Don Anton, et al.), 7 International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law & Economics (2007)
  • National Governance and the Global Climate Change Regime (Dana R. Fisher), 5(3) Global Environmental Politics (2005) 

Newspaper Op-Eds/Commentaries 

  • A Trillion Trees to fight climate change sounds nice. Here’s what it misses, Indianapolis Star, Dec. 20, 2020
  • The Future of Clean Coal, The Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk), Dec. 31, 2016
  • Dangers of Trying to Set Earth’s Thermostat, USA Today, August 11, 2013
  • Bush’s Climate Change Initiative is Not Enough, San Diego Union Tribune, February 27, 2002 [co-author: Andrew Strauss]
  • Alternative Energy and Better Mileage Rules Can Offset a Mideast Oil Shutoff, Columbus Dispatch, November 12, 2001 and 12 other papers with a total circulation of over 1.1 million.
  • Nuclear Power Comes Out Swinging, San Diego Union Tribune, May 16, 2001 [co-author: Kate O’Neill]
  • The Case Not Made for Drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, San Diego Union Tribune, February 19, 2001
  • U.S. Should Lead the Way on Global Warming, San Francisco Chronicle, December 3, 2000 

Online Publications 

  • Sara Nawaz, Wil Burns & Guilia Belotti, EPA’s regulation of new marine carbon dioxide removal research should require much better public engagement, Illuminem, Sept. 19, 2024
  • Wil Burns & Chris Neidl, SB308: Seeking to deepen California’s commitment to carbon dioxide removal, Illuminem, Aug. 28, 2024
  • Wil Burns, What sectors do we invest in to drive carbon removal? Illuminem, May 22, 2024
  • Wil Burns, Marine biomass carbon removal and storage: sink it and forget it? Illuminem, Jan. 22, 2024
  • Wil Burns & Romany Webb, The Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction treaty and its implications for marine-based carbon dioxide removal, Illuminem, Aug. 23, 2023
  • Wil Burns, Don’t Rule Out Enhanced Oil Recovery in Carbon Dioxide Removal, Illuminem, Mar. 21, 2023
  • Wil Burns, Biden signs Inflation Reduction Act: Its climate promise relies heavily on carbon capture, meaning thousands of miles of pipeline, The Conversation, Aug. 16, 2022
  • Wil Burns, Can Kelp Help?, Illuminem, July 13, 2022
  • Wil Burns & Toby Bryce, A Bid to Provide Market Support to Scale Durable Carbon Removal: New York’s Carbon Dioxide Removal Leadership Act, Illuminem, Mar. 9, 2022
  • Wil Burns, Companies hoping to grow carbon-sucking kelp may be rushing ahead of the science, Energy Central, Sept. 21, 2021
  • The Green New Deal and Carbon Dioxide Removal Options, Energy Central, September 4, 2020
  • Can we tweak marine chemistry to help stave off climate change?, The Conversation, March 12, 2019
  • How Should We Compensate Poor Countries for ‘Loss and Damage’ from Climate Change, The Conversation, April 22, 2016 

Guest Editorships 

  • Fall/Winter issue of Climate Law, special issue on climate geoengineering law (2015) (co-editor, Simon Nicholson)
  • Spring & Summer issues of the Carbon & Climate Law Review (2013), special issues on climate geoengineering law
  • Special issue on fisheries, Journal of Environmental Studies & Sciences (Summer 2013) (Co-editor, D.G. Webster)
  • GHG Market Report: 2012, International Emissions Trading Report (Board of Editors)
  • Special Issue on the Precautionary Principle and Biodiversity: 5(1-2) International Journal of Global Environmental Issues (2004) 

Bibliographies 

 Online Projects 

TEACHING INTERESTS: 
  •  Ocean & Coastal Law & Policy
  • Climate Change Law & Policy
  • International Envirnmental Law & Policy 
RECENT AWARDS AND HONORS:
  • Lifetime Achievement Award, Association for Environmental Studies & Sciences: 2019
  • Outstanding Alumni Award, Arts & Sciences, Bradley University