Dr. Anita Margrethe Halvorssen

Director, Global Legal Solutions, LLC

Areas of Specialization:

Public international law; multilateral environmental agreements; trade and sustainable development; differential treatment for developing countries; business and human rights; climate change and emissions trading and the CDM; small island developing States; environmental governance; the UN and multilateral systems; institutional reform; the role of civil society in sustainable development; international human rights; corporate social responsibility (CSR); socially responsible investments (SRI); sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) and ethics guidelines. Teaching and evaluating papers on these same topics.

Academic Background:

  • Doctor of the Science of Law (J.S.D.), Columbia University, School of Law, New York (1999)
  • LL.M., Columbia University, School of Law (1988)
  • Juridisk embetseksamen (Law Degree) University of Oslo, Norway (1985)
  • Agronomist Degree, Landbruksakademiet (Agricultural Academy), Oslo, Norway (1978)

Positions:

  • Director, Global Legal Solutions, LLC (2000 – present)
  • Adjunct Professor, University of Denver, College of Law – Courses: Global Climate Change Law and Policy, and Sustainable Development and  Trade, (2002 – 2016).
  • Senior Instructor, International Law, Political Science Department, University of Colorado (2001 – 2011).
  • Adjunct Instructor, International Environmental Law, Environmental Studies Program, University of Colorado (2001, 2007).
  • Independent consultant, the World Health Organization (WHO) (1999).
  • Adjunct Instructor, International Environmental Law, University of Colorado, School of Law, (1998).
  • Visiting Fellow Natural Resources Law Center, University of Colorado, School of Law (1992-1993).
  • Adjunct Instructor, European Community Law, University of Colorado, School of Law (1992).
  • Project Assistant (Foreign Associate), Holme Roberts & Owen, Denver, Colorado (1988-1989).
  • Senior Executive Officer, Secretariat member of the Planning Act Committee, Legal Division, Department of Planning and Natural Resource Management,  Royal Ministry of Environment, Oslo, Norway (1986-87, 89).
  • Trainee, Division of Planning and Development, County Municipality of Akershus, Oslo, Norway (1978-1979).
  • Consultant, International Office, Confederation of Norwegian Business and Industry, Oslo, Norway, (summer internships, 1983, 1984, 1985).
  • Intern, Environment Department, Governor’s Office for Oslo and Akershus Counties, (1984).

Other Functions:

  • Volunteering as a legal expert in international law at the Legal Response Initiative (LRI) (2012-present).
  • Member International Law Association (ILA) (2002 – present).
  • Member, ILA Committee on Legal Principles Relating to Climate Change, (2010 – 2014).
  • Member, ILA Committee on International Law and Sea Level Rise (2014 – present).
  • Member Research Team of the Sustainable Companies Project, University of Oslo (2010-present).
  • Member American Society of International Law (ASIL) (2000 – present).
  • Member of ASIL’s interest group on International Environmental Law (2007 – present).
  • Member of the Advisory Board of the Colorado Journal of International Environmental Law and Policy, (2000 – 2012).
  • The Norwegian Association of Lawyers, (1986-present).
  • Association Representative at the Royal Ministry of Environment, Norway  (1987).
  • World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), Representative, Council of Norwegian Chapter (1986-1990).

PUBLICATIONS

Books:

EQUALITY AMONG UNEQUALS IN INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL LAW DIFFERENTIAL TREATMENT FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES [Boulder, Oxford: Westview Press 1999]. Nominated for the Harold and Margaret Sprout Award 2001.

Chapters in Books:

“How the Norwegian SWF Balances Ethics, ESG Risks, and Returns: Can this Approach Work for Other Institutional Investors?” in PENSION FUNDS AND SUSTAINABLE INVESTMENT: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES (Oxford University Press, May 2023).

Extraterritorial Regulation of Companies and the UN Guiding Principles on Human Rights and Business in BUSINESS AND HUMAN RIGHTS, Manoj Kumar Sinha, editor (Sage 2013).

The Origin and development of the International Environmental Law in ROUTLEDGE HANDBOOK OF INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL LAW, Shawkat Alam, et al. eds. (London, New York: Routledge 2013).

Articles:

w/ Beate Sjåfjell, “The Legal Status of Oil and Gas Exploitation in the Arctic: The Case of Norway,” Special Issue, Tina Hunter (ed.), OGEL 2 (2016).

w/ Cody Eldredge, “Investing in Sustainability: Reform Proposals for the Ethics Guidelines of the Norwegian Sovereign Wealth Fund,” European Company Law Volume 11 Issue 2 , University of Oslo Faculty of Law Research Paper No. 2014-07 (2014).

w/ Elisabeth Holland, “Climate Change: Scientific Basis and Status of The Negotiations of the Treaties,” International and Comparative Corporate Law Journal 2 (2013).

“Using the Norwegian Sovereign Wealth Fund’s Ethical Guidelines as a Model for Investors, Be They Private or Government-Owned,” European Company Law 88 (2011).

“Addressing Climate Change through the Norwegian Sovereign Wealth Fund(SWF) Using Responsible Investments to Encourage Corporations to take ESG Issues into Account in their Decision-Making,” International and Comparative Corporate Law Journal 1 (2011).

“The Norwegian Sovereign Wealth Fund Addresses the Interrelated Challenges of Climate Change and Sustainable Development – A Model for Regulating Other Sovereign Wealth Funds” (Working paper) (2009).

“Global Response to Climate Change- From Stockholm to Copenhagen,” 85 Denv. U. L. Rev. 841 (2008).

“UNFCCC, The Kyoto Protocol, and the WTO – Brewing Conflicts or Are They Mutually Supportive?” 36 Denv. J. Int’l L. & Pol’y 369 (2008).

“Common, But Differentiated Commitments in the Future Climate Change Regime – Amending the Kyoto Protocol to Include Annex C and the Annex C  Mitigation Fund,” 18 Colo. J. Int’l Envtl. L. & Pol’y 247 (2007).

“Nature, Origin, and Impact of Legally Binding Consequences: The Case of the Climate Regime” (with Jon Hovi) Int. Environ Agreements, 6: 157-171 (2006).

“The Kyoto Protocol and Developing Countries – The Clean Development Mechanism,” 16 Colo. J. Int’l Envtl. L. & Pol’y 353 (2005). Environmental Law and Policy, Spring 2005, (Volume 16:2).

“Rapporteur’s Summary of the Deliberative Forum: Sustainable Living, Climate Change, and Energy Production: The NGO Agenda in Energy Policy,” 13 Colo. J. Int’L Envtl. L. & Pol’y 65 (2002).

“The UN General Assembly’s Special Session on Small Island Developing States: Sustainable Development in a Nutshell.” Colo. J. Int’l Envtl. L. & Pol’y 1999 Y.B. 113 (2000).

“The Role of National Institutions in the Development and Implementation of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control,” U.N. Doc. WHO/NCD/TFI/99.5 (1999).  (Background paper for the World Health Organization).

“Climate Change Treaties – New Developments at the Buenos Aires Conference,” Colo. J. Int’L Envtl. L. & Pol’y 1998 Y.B. 1 (1999).

“Pursuing the Elusive Goal of ‘Sustainable Development’ Through International Efforts, Resource Law Notes” (Natural Resources Law Center, Colorado), April 1995, at 4.

Commentary, 3 Colo. J. Int’l Envtl. L. & Pol’y 225 (1992).  (Commentary on the paper presented by Professor Ved Nanda, addressing the law of non-navigational uses of international watercourses).

Book review, Centre for Energy, Petroleum and Mineral Law and Policy (CEPMLP) Internet Journal (2003), reviewing Human Rights In Natural Resource Development: Public Participation In The Sustainable Development Of Mining And Energy Resources, edited by Donald N. Zillman, Alastair R. Lucas, and George (Rock) Pring (2003).

Book review, Colo. J. Int’l Envtl. L. & Pol’y 2005 Y.B. 1 (2006), Implementing  the Climate Regime: International Compliance, edited by Olav Schram Stokke, Jon Hovi, and Geir Ulfstein.

Book review, 4 Colo. J. Int’l Envtl. L. & Pol’y 241 (1993), reviewing Stephan Schmidheiny, Changing Course: a global  business perspective on development and the environment (1992).

Book review, 13 Colum. J. Env. L. 397 (1988), reviewing the Report of the World  Commission on Environment and Development: our common future (1987).

Selected Conference, Panel, and Seminar Contributions:

“International Law and Sustainable Development,” Presentation, Nanda Center’s International Legal Studies Program on “Sustainable Development, Corporate Governance and International Law” held as the Midwest International Law Weekend of the American Branch of the International Law Association (ABILA), University of Denver, Sturm College of Law, February 12-13, 2010.

“The Norwegian Sovereign Wealth Fund Addresses the Interrelated Challenges of Climate Change and Sustainable Development – A Model for Regulating Other Sovereign Wealth Funds (SWF).” Presentation, Symposium: Sovereign Wealth Fund, National University of Singapore, Singapore, September 9-11, 2009.

“Global Response to Climate Change – From Stockholm to Copenhagen.” Presentation, Denver University Law Review Synposium: Global Climate Change: Integrating Environmental Justice into Policy, Regulation, and Litigation, University of Denver College of Law, Denver, CO, February 15, 2008.

“A Future Climate Change Regime Based on the Principle of Common, but Differentiated Commitments.” Presentation, International Symposium: Legal Principles and Post 2012 Climate Regime, Waseda University , Tokyo , December, 2006.

“Kyoto Debates” Panel participant, Harris Institute for Global Legal Studies, Washington University – School of Law, – Missouri, November, 2005.

“Sustainable Development: Nowhere to Hide – Latest Legal Developments” Speech at the U.S. Chapter Meeting of the Association of International Petroleum Negotiators in Denver, Colorado, March, 2005.

“The Kyoto Protocol and Developing Countries – The Clean Development Mechanism,” Panel participant, Challenges Facing Developing Countries, International Law Student Association, University of Colorado, School of Law, October, 2004.

“Comparing the Montreal Protocol with the Kyoto Protocol: Why One Agreement is a Success and the Other Can’t Get Off the Ground,” Colloquium at Cornell Institute for Public Affairs, Cornell University, April, 2004.

“The Kyoto Protocol and Latin America,” Climate Affairs in Latin America: Climate Issues and Policy Responses, Institute of Latin America Studies, Columbia University, January, 2002.

“Differential Treatment of Developing Countries in International Environmental Law,” Environmental Law Lunch Seminar, Faculty of Law, University of Oslo, June, 2001.

“Rapporteur’s Summary of the Deliberative Forum: Sustainable Living, Climate Change, and Energy Production: The NGO Agenda in Energy Policy,” Cartography of governance: The Role of Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs), University of Colorado, School of Law, April, 2001.

Commentary on the paper presented by Professor Ved Nanda, addressing the law of non navigational uses of international watercourses, Panel participant, Doman Colloquium on the Law of International Watercourses, University of Colorado, School of Law, 1991

Working Languages:

Scandinavian Languages, English, Spanish, and French (moderate).