Social epidemiologist can also discuss what pandemic treaty negotiators can learn from international environmental law

TORONTO, Nov. 2, 2022 – The world will be watching as global leaders start to convene this weekend at the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP27, to review their countries’ commitments to environmental protection in accordance with the Paris Agreement.

But are such agreements and treaties effective? Often, the answer is “no,” says Social Epidemiologist Mathieu Poirier, an associate professor in York University’s Faculty of Health who has extensively researched international treaties and their effectiveness.

“Policymakers should consider adopting binding enforcement mechanisms and researchers can make use of global legal epidemiology to produce rigorous research on the international laws, policies and norms,” says Poirier, co-director of York’s Global Strategy Lab, who co-authored a recent study on the topic.

While he speaks in this video – full clip available upon request – about why international treaties are often ineffective and how the issue can be addressed, Poirier is also available to comment on:

• Whether international treaties are helpful in addressing global challenges
• What can make treaties impactful and successful?
• What can pandemic treaty negotiators learn from international environmental law?
• How can enforcement mechanisms help to create more effective environmental and other treaties?
• How, and why, trade and finance treaties are more effective than environmental, human rights, humanitarian, maritime and security treaties?

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Media Contact:

Gloria Suhasini, York University Media Relations, 647.463.4354, suhasini@yorku.ca