Dr. Wil Burns
Director
Director
Dr. Wil Burns is a Senior Fellow in the Center for Global Law & Policy at the Santa Clara University School of Law, where he teaches courses in the field of international environmental law, ocean and coastal law, climate change law and environmental policy. He also holds a position as an adjunct professor in the Department of Earth Systems at Stanford , where he teaches Environmental Justice. Dr. Burns has published over 75 articles in academic journals and co-edited three books. His current research focuses on climate change litigation, the impacts of climate change on small island states and adaptation responses, the effectiveness of international treaty regimes to conserve cetaceans (whales, dolphins, and porpoises), and how to effectively operationalize the precautionary principle in international environmental treaty regimes.
Dr. Burns holds a Ph.D. in International Environmental Law from the University of Wales-Cardiff School of Law. He serves as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of International Wildlife Law & Policy, and is Co-Chair of the American Society of International Law's International Environmental Law Group and Co-Chair of the International Environmental Law Committee of the American Branch of the International Law Association.
Prior to his academic career, Dr. Burns served as Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs in 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 international wildlife law, and as a Senior Research Associate for the Pacific Institute for Studies in Development, Environment, and Security.
Dr. Burns holds a Ph.D. in International Environmental Law from the University of Wales-Cardiff School of Law. He serves as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of International Wildlife Law & Policy, and is Co-Chair of the American Society of International Law's International Environmental Law Group and Co-Chair of the International Environmental Law Committee of the American Branch of the International Law Association.
Prior to his academic career, Dr. Burns served as Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs in 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 international wildlife law, and as a Senior Research Associate for the Pacific Institute for Studies in Development, Environment, and Security.
