Dr Joseph Wenta
Lecturer
School of Law and Justice (Law)
- Email:joseph.wenta@newcastle.edu.au
- Phone:(02) 4921 6218
Career Summary
Biography
Dr Joseph Wenta joined Newcastle Law School as a lecturer in January 2020. Prior to his appointment at the University of Newcastle, Joe worked as a sessional academic at the Faculty of Law, University of Tasmania (2015-2019), and was previously an Associate Lecturer and sessional academic at Newcastle Law School (2008-2015).
Joe has a diverse array of research interests ranging from international climate and environmental governance to Australian public law. His PhD research, entitled 'Just Resilience in Australia's Climate Adaptation Laws' examines the readiness of Australian laws to support flexible and equitable responses to climate impacts. He has previously published on aspects of international climate governance and Australian constitutional and administrative law in highly regarded national and international journals.
Joe has extensive teaching experience across several compulsory subjects including Environmental Law, Criminal Law and Procedure, Administrative and Constitutional Law, and foundational courses such as Legal System and Method. He adopts a student-centred approach to learning and teaching, using a diverse range of learning activities to support students in developing their own skills in independent, life-long learning.
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, University of Tasmania
- Bachelor of Science (Forensic) (Honours), University of Newcastle
- Bachelor of Laws (Honours), University of Newcastle
- Graduate Certificate in Research, University of Tasmania
Keywords
- Administrative Law
- Climate Adaptation Law
- Climate Change Law
- Climate Justice
- Constitutional Law
- Environmental Justice
- Resilience Thinking and Law
Fields of Research
Code | Description | Percentage |
---|---|---|
480701 | Administrative law | 20 |
480202 | Climate change law | 35 |
480405 | Law and society and socio-legal research | 45 |
Professional Experience
UON Appointment
Title | Organisation / Department |
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Lecturer | University of Newcastle Newcastle Law School Australia |
Publications
For publications that are currently unpublished or in-press, details are shown in italics.
Chapter (1 outputs)
Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link | |||||
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2019 |
Wenta J, McDonald J, 'The Role of Law and Legal Systems in Climate Change Adaptation Policy', Research Handbook on Climate Change Adaptation Policy, Edward Elgar Publishing, United Kingdom 69-90 (2019) [B1]
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Journal article (6 outputs)
Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link | |||||
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2019 |
Pickering J, McGee JS, Karlsson-Vinkhuyzen SI, Wenta J, 'Global climate governance between hard and soft law: Can the Paris agreement's 'Crème Brûleé' approach enhance ecological reflexivity?', Journal of Environmental Law, 31 1-28 (2019) [C1] In the face of global environmental concerns, legal institutions must cultivate a reflexive capacity to monitor global ecological shifts and to reconfigure their practices accordi... [more] In the face of global environmental concerns, legal institutions must cultivate a reflexive capacity to monitor global ecological shifts and to reconfigure their practices accordingly. But, it remains unclear whether harder or softer legal norms are more capable of enhancing such ecological reflexivity. This article traces variations in harder and softer norms in two aspects of the evolution of the global climate change regime-national contributions to mitigation and review mechanisms- A nd their implications for ecological reflexivity. We find the regime's reflexivity has increased moderately and slowly over time but without a consistent shift towards harder or softer norms. The Paris Agreement's innovative approach, combining harder procedural commitments with softer substantive provisions (a 'crème brûleé'), has potential to encourage flexible responses to changing conditions within a stable, long-term architecture. However, the Agreement's softer, transparency-based compliance framework provides limited assurance that countries will make and fulfill ambitious commitments.
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2019 |
Wenta J, McDonald J, McGee JS, 'Enhancing resilience and justice in climate adaptation laws', Transnational Environmental Law, 8 89-118 (2019) [C1] Resilience thinking - an approach for understanding and managing change - is increasingly central to climate change adaptation law and policy. Yet the influence of adaptation law ... [more] Resilience thinking - an approach for understanding and managing change - is increasingly central to climate change adaptation law and policy. Yet the influence of adaptation law and policy on the distribution of climate impacts is often overlooked in studies of socio-ecological resilience to climate change. This article demonstrates how environmental justice scholarship helps to address this gap in the literature relating to adaptation law and resilience. Drawing on existing literature, the article identifies four principles to promote resilience and justice through climate adaptation laws. Climate adaptation laws must (i) prepare for, and respond to, change; (ii) address the distributive effects of climate change and adaptation; (iii) promote participation in adaptation processes; and (iv) cross sectors and scales. Each criterion can be implemented in part through existing legal processes, but might also be further supported by incremental law reform. Developing both resilience and justice dimensions will enhance the effectiveness of adaptation laws in addressing climate impacts.
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Nova | ||||||
2016 |
Wenta J, McGee J, Phelan L, 'Can a Regional Insurance Mechanism Enhance Resilience to Slow Onset Impacts of Climate Change', University of Tasmania Law Review, 35 23-57 (2016) [C1]
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Nova | ||||||
2014 |
McGee JS, Wenta J, 'Technology Transfer Institutions in Global Climate Governance: The Tension between Equity Principles and Market Allocation', Review of European, Comparative & International Environmental Law, 23 367-381 (2014) [C1]
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Nova | ||||||
2014 |
McGee J, Phelan L, Wenta J, 'Writing the Fine Print: Developing Regional Insurance for Climate Change Adaptation in the Pacific', Melbourne Journal of International Law, 15 444-472 (2014) [C1]
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Nova | ||||||
2012 | Wenta JP, 'The integrity branch of government and the separation of judicial power', AIAL Forum, - 42-67 (2012) [C2] | |||||||
Show 3 more journal articles |
Grants and Funding
Summary
Number of grants | 2 |
---|---|
Total funding | $15,600 |
Click on a grant title below to expand the full details for that specific grant.
20221 grants / $13,600
Policy and legislative changes for activating markets to better incentivise soil stewardship practices.$13,600
Funding body: CRC for High Performance Soils
Funding body | CRC for High Performance Soils |
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Project Team | Doctor Joseph Wenta, Nanthi Bolan, Nanthi Bolan, Mark Morrison, Mark Morrison, Nicholas Pawsey, Nicholas Pawsey, Chris Wilmot, Chris Wilmot |
Scheme | PhD Scholarship |
Role | Lead |
Funding Start | 2022 |
Funding Finish | 2025 |
GNo | G2101125 |
Type Of Funding | CRC - Cooperative Research Centre |
Category | 4CRC |
UON | Y |
20211 grants / $2,000
Enhancing Australian Sustainability$2,000
Funding body: College of Human and Social Futures, University of Newcastle
Funding body | College of Human and Social Futures, University of Newcastle |
---|---|
Project Team | Dr Joseph Wenta |
Scheme | CHSF New Start Grant |
Role | Lead |
Funding Start | 2021 |
Funding Finish | 2021 |
GNo | |
Type Of Funding | Internal |
Category | INTE |
UON | N |
Research Supervision
Number of supervisions
Current Supervision
Commenced | Level of Study | Research Title | Program | Supervisor Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
2020 | PhD | Legal Framework for Resilient and Sustainable Coastal Zones | PhD (Law), College of Human and Social Futures, The University of Newcastle | Principal Supervisor |
2020 | PhD | Road to Freedom: A Critical Analysis of Post-Conviction Review Mechanisms in New South Wales and Prospects for Reform | PhD (Law), College of Human and Social Futures, The University of Newcastle | Co-Supervisor |
Past Supervision
Year | Level of Study | Research Title | Program | Supervisor Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
2023 | PhD | Capabilities and Climate Justice: Analysis of Climate Adaptation Policy and Practice | PhD (Law), College of Human and Social Futures, The University of Newcastle | Co-Supervisor |
2021 | Honours | Per- and Poly-fluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Contamination: An Ecological and Legal Crisis in Australia (working title) | Law, Newcastle Law School, University of Newcastle, Australia | Sole Supervisor |
2011 | Honours | The Kables that Bind: Interweaving Incompatabilities in Wainohu v New South Wales | Law, Newcastle Law School, University of Newcastle, Australia | Principal Supervisor |
Dr Joseph Wenta
Position
Lecturer
Newcastle Law School
School of Law and Justice
College of Human and Social Futures
Focus area
Law
Contact Details
joseph.wenta@newcastle.edu.au | |
Phone | (02) 4921 6218 |
Link |
Office
Room | Level 5, NU Space |
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Building | NU Space |
Location | Newcastle City Campus , |