Diarmuid Torney

Dr.

Profile Photo

I am an associate professor in the School of Law and Government at Dublin City University. I hold an MPhil and DPhil (PhD) in International Relations from the University of Oxford. My research focuses on climate change politics, policy, and governance. I am co-director of the DCU Centre for Climate and Society and a lead author on Ireland’s first Climate Change Assessment, commissioned by the Environmental Protection Agency.

I am programme chair of DCU’s MSc in Climate Change: Policy, Media and SocietyI welcome applications from prospective research students interested in climate change politics and governance at national, European, and global levels. 

I am an independent expert member of the National Economic and Social Council and a member of the Executive Group of the All Island Climate and Biodiversity Research Network. I am also a member of the Expert Working Group on Sustainability of Chartered Accountants Ireland, a member of the Net Zero Working Group of the Royal Irish Academy, and a member of the Climate Change and Biodiversity Advisory Group of Community Foundation Ireland. I am also a Research Fellow of the Earth System Governance Project.

Book

Year Publication
2015 Diarmuid Torney (2015) European Climate Leadership in Question: Policies toward China and India. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. [Link]

Edited Book

Year Publication
2020 David Robbins;Diarmuid Torney;Pat Brereton (Ed.). (2020) Ireland and the Climate Crisis. London: Palgrave, [Link]
2018 Camilla Adelle, Katja Biedenkopf, Diarmuid Torney (Ed.). (2018) European Union External Environmental Policy: Rules, Regulation and Governance Beyond Borders. Cham: Palgrave, [Link]

Peer Reviewed Journal

Year Publication
2023 Claire Dupont; Brendan Moore; Elin Lerum Boasson; Viviane Gravey; Andrew Jordan; Paula Kivimaa; Kati Kulovesi; Caroline Kuzemko; Sebastian Oberthür; Dmytro Panchuk; Jeffrey Rosamond; Diarmuid Torney; Jale Tosun; Ingmar von Homeyer (2023) 'Three decades of EU climate policy: Racing toward climate neutrality?'. WIREs Climate Change, e863 . [Link] https://doi.org/10.1002/wcc.863
2023 Lauren Withycombe Keeler; Fletcher Beaudoin; Abril Cid; Robert Cowley; Samantha Fahy; Amy Lerner; Caroline Moran; Diarmuid Torney (2023) 'Building transformative city-university sustainability partnerships: the Audacious Partnerships Process'. Urban transformations, 5 (1). [Link] https://doi.org/10.1186/s42854-022-00045-5
2021 Wagner, P.M.; Torney, D.; Ylä-Anttila, T. (2021) 'Governing a multilevel and cross-sectoral climate policy implementation network'. Environmental Policy and Governance, 31 . [Link] [DOI]
2021 Torney, D. (2021) 'Deliberative mini‐publics and the european green deal in turbulent times: The irish and french climate assemblies'. Politics And Governance, 9 . [Link] [DOI]
2020 Diarmuid Torney (2020) 'The Politics of Emergency? Ireland’s Response to Climate Change'. Irish Studies in International Affairs, 31 :13-26. [Link]
2020 Torney, D.; O’Gorman, R. (2020) 'Adaptability versus certainty in a carbon emissions reduction regime: An assessment of the EU’s 2030 Climate and Energy Policy Framework'. Review of European, Comparative and International Environmental Law, 29 . [Link] [DOI]
2020 Devaney, L.; Brereton, P.; Torney, D.; Coleman, M.; Boussalis, C.; Coan, T.G. (2020) 'Environmental literacy and deliberative democracy: a content analysis of written submissions to the Irish Citizens’ Assembly on climate change'. Climatic Change, 162 . [Link] [DOI]
2020 Laura Devaney; Diarmuid Torney; Pat Brereton; Martha Coleman (2020) 'Ireland’s Citizens’ Assembly on Climate Change: Lessons for Deliberative Public Engagement and Communication'. Environmental Communication, 14 (2):141-146. [Link] https://doi.org/10.1080/17524032.2019.1708429
2019 Torney, D; O' Gorman, R (2019) 'A laggard in good times and bad? The limited impact of EU membership on Ireland's climate change and environmental policy'. Irish Political Studies, . [DOI]
2019 Torney, D. (2019) 'Climate laws in small European states: symbolic legislation and limits of diffusion in Ireland and Finland'. Environmental Politics, 28 . [Link] [DOI]
2019 Torney, Diarmuid (2019) 'Environmental policy and European Union politics'. Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Politics, . [Link] [DOI]
2019 Torney, D. (2019) 'Follow the leader? Conceptualising the relationship between leaders and followers in polycentric climate governance'. Environmental Politics, 28 . [Link] [DOI]
2017 Diarmuid Torney (2017) 'If at first you don't succeed: the development of climate change legislation in Ireland'. Irish Political Studies, 32 :247-267. [Link] [DOI]
2017 Gippner, O.; Torney, D. (2017) 'Shifting policy priorities in EU-China energy relations: Implications for Chinese energy investments in Europe'. Energy Policy, 101 . [Link] [DOI]
2015 Diarmuid Torney (2015) 'Bilateral Climate Cooperation: The EU's Relations with China and India'. Global Environmental Politics, 15 (1):105-122. [Link] [DOI]
2014 Diarmuid Torney (2014) 'External Perceptions and EU Foreign Policy Effectiveness: The Case of Climate Change'. Journal of Common Market Studies, 52 (6):1358-1373. [Link] [DOI]
2014 Diarmuid Torney (2014) 'Challenges of European Union Climate Diplomacy: The Case of China'. European foreign affairs review, 19 (3/1):119-134. [Link]
2012 Carolina B. Pavese and Diarmuid Torney (2012) 'The Contribution of the European Union to Global Climate Change Governance: Explaining the Conditions for EU Actorness'. Revista Brasileira de Politica Internacional, 55 (2):125-143. [Link] [DOI]

Other Journal

Year Publication
2017 Little, C; Torney, D (2017) 'The politics of climate change in Ireland: symposium introduction' 32 :191-198. [DOI]
2012 Diarmuid Torney (2012) 'The EU’s Engagement with China on Climate Change: Lessons from the EU-China Partnership on Climate Change' 3 :8-13. [Link]
2010 Diarmuid Torney and Annika Greup (2010) 'Editorial Introduction: New Directions in Climate Change Politics' 5 (2) :5-15. [Link]

Book Chapter

Year Publication
2023 Paul Tobin; Diarmuid Torney; Katja Biedenkopf (2023) 'EU Climate Leadership: Global and Domestic Dimensions' In: Handbook on European Union Climate Change Policy and Politics. Cheltenham : Edward Elgar. [Link]
2023 Duncan Liefferink; Mikael Skou Andersen; Jana Gheuens; Paul Tobin; Diarmuid Torney; Rüdiger KW Wurzel (2023) 'Leaders, Pioneers, and Followers in Environmental Governance' In: Routledge Handbook of Environmental Policy. Abingdon : Routledge. [Link]
2022 Biedenkopf, K.; Dupont, C.; Torney, D. (2022) 'The European Union: A Green Great Power?' In: Great Powers, Climate Change, and Global Environmental Responsibilities. [Link]
2021 Diarmuid Torney; Laura Devaney; Pat Brereton (2021) 'Ireland’s Citizens’ Assembly on Climate Change: Institutional Pioneership by a Climate Laggard?' In: Climate Governance across the Globe: Pioneers, Leaders and Followers. London : Routledge. [Link]
2021 Diarmuid Torney (2021) 'India’s relations with the European Union on environmental policy' In: ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY IN INDIA. London : Routledge. [Link]
2020 Diarmuid Torney (2020) 'Ireland’s Policy Response to Climate Change: An Historical Overview' In: Ireland and the Climate Crisis. Cham : Springer. [Link]
2020 David Robbins; Diarmuid Torney; Pat Brereton (2020) 'Introduction' In: Ireland and the Climate Crisis. London : Palgrave. [Link]
2019 Diarmuid Torney (2019) 'Energy Governance in Ireland' In: Handbook of Energy Governance in Europe. Cham : Springer. [Link]
2018 Diarmuid Torney and Mai’a Davis Cross (2018) 'Environmental and Climate Diplomacy: Building coalitions through persuasion' In: Introduction: European Union External Environmental Policy. Cham : Palgrave. [Link]
2018 Diarmuid Torney and Olivia Gippner (2018) 'China: Deepening cooperation on climate and environmental governance' In: European Union External Environmental Policy: Rules, Regulation and Governance Beyond Borders. Cham : Palgrave. [Link]
2016 Bo Yan and Diarmuid Torney (2016) 'Confronting the Climate Challenge: Convergence and Divergence between the EU and China' In: China, the European Union, and the International Politics of Global Governance. Basingstoke : Palgrave. [Link] [DOI]
2015 Diarmuid Torney (2015) 'The Global Context of Climate Change Politics' In: Adapting to Climate Change: Governance Challenges. Dublin : Glasnevin Publishing.
2015 Conor Little and Diarmuid Torney (2015) 'Environmental Challenges' In: The SAGE Handbook of European Foreign Policy, Vol. 2. London : Sage. [Link]
2015 Diarmuid Torney (2015) 'Climate Change as a Driver of Regional Integration in Europe' In: Drivers of Integration and Regionalism in Europe and Asia: Comparative Perspectives. London : Routledge. [Link] [DOI]
2014 Katja Biedenkopf and Diarmuid Torney (2014) 'Cooperation on Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading in EU-China Climate Diplomacy' In: China-EU: Green Cooperation. Singapore : World Scientific Publishing. [Link]
2014 Bernice Lee and Diarmuid Torney (2014) 'New Drivers of US Climate Action? The Politics of Extreme Weather and Adaptation' In: The EU, the US and Global Climate Governance. London : Routledge. [Link]
2013 Bernice Lee and Diarmuid Torney (2013) 'Leading on Climate and Resources' In: Challenges for European Foreign Policy in 2013: Renewing the EU’s Role in the world. Madrid : FRIDE. [Link]

Published Report

Year Publication
2023 Sebastian Oberthür; Brendan Moore; Ingmar von Homeyer; Elin Lerum Boasson; Claire Dupont; Kati Kulovesi; Louisa Parks; Marjan Peeters; Annalisa Savaresi; Diarmuid Torney (2023) Towards an EU Climate Governance Framework to Deliver on the European Green Deal. GreenDeal-NET, . [Link]
2022 Sadhbh O’Neill; Cáit Gleeson; Diarmuid Torney; Sinead Mercier; Clodagh Daly; Rose Wall (2022) Environmental Justice in Ireland: Key Dimensions of Environmental and Climate Injustice Experienced by Vulnerable and Marginalised Communities. Dublin City University & Community Law and Mediation, . [Link]
2021 Sabrina Dekker; Diarmuid Torney (2021) Evaluating Ireland’s Climate Policy Performance. Environmental Protection Agency, . [Link]
2021 Diarmuid Torney (2021) Comparative Assessment of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021. . [Link]
2021 Paul Bolger; Pat Brereton; Olga Grant; Diarmuid Torney (2021) Better Together: Knowledge Co-production for a Sustainable Society. Royal Irish Academy, . [Link]
2020 Paul Wagner; Diarmuid Torney (2020) Ireland’s Climate Action Plan 2019: A Social Network Analysis of a Policy Implementation Network. . [Link]
2020 Diarmuid Torney (2020) Options for Strengthening Ireland’s Climate Law. . [Link]
2020 Diarmuid Torney (2020) What Are Framework Climate Change Laws and Why Are They Important?. . [Link]
2020 Laura Devaney, Diarmuid Torney, Pat Brereton and Martha Coleman (2020) Deepening Public Engagement on Climate Change: Lessons from the Citizens’ Assembly – Final Report. Environmental Protection Agency, . [Link]
2019 Laura Devaney, Martha Coleman, Diarmuid Torney and Pat Brereton (2019) Enhancing Citizen Engagement on the Climate Crisis: The Role of Deliberation – Resource for Policymakers. Environmental Protection Agency, . [Link]
2019 Laura Devaney and Diarmuid Torney (2019) Advancing the Low-Carbon Transition in Irish Transport. National Economic and Social Council, . [Link]
2017 Diarmuid Torney (2017) Enabling Decarbonisation: A Study of Energy Sector Governance in Ireland. Environmental Protection Agency, . [Link]
2013 Diarmuid Torney (2013) European Climate Diplomacy: Building Capacity for External Action. Finnish Institute of International Affairs, . [Link]
2013 Bernice Lee and Diarmuid Torney (2013) New Drivers of US Climate Action? The Politics of Extreme Weather and Adaptation. Transworld: The Transatlantic Relationship and the future Global Governance, . [Link]
2010 Diarmuid Torney and Noriko Fujiwara (2010) National Commitments, Compliance and the Future of the Kyoto Protocol. Centre for European Policy Studies, . [Link]
2010 Benito Müller, David Robinson, Zhang Xiliang, Christian Ellermann, Huo Molin, Diarmuid Torney, and Zhou Jian (2010) Addressing Large Developing Country Emissions: The Case for Strategic Sino-European Collaboration under Joint Commitments. Oxford Institute for Energy Studies, . [Link]
2009 Diarmuid Torney and Moustapha Kamal Gueye (2009) Climate Change Mitigation Policies in Selected OECD Countries: Trade and Development Implications for Developing Countries. International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development, . [Link]
2007 Timothy Myatt, Carlos Sayao, Diarmuid Torney, and Zinta Zommers (2007) “Outreach 5” Country Assessment Report. G8 Research Group, . [Link]

Other Publication

Year Publication
2021 Dupont, C.; Torney, D. (2021) European union climate governance and the european green deal in turbulent times. [Link] [DOI]
2021 Sarah L. Nash; Diarmuid Torney; Simon Matti (2021) Climate Change Acts: Origins, Dynamics, and Consequences. [Link] [DOI]
2019 Carter, N.; Little, C.; Torney, D. (2019) Climate politics in small European states. [Link] [DOI]
2019 Rüdiger K Wurzel; Duncan Liefferink; Diarmuid Torney (2019) Pioneers, leaders and followers in multilevel and polycentric climate governance. ABINGDON: [Link] [DOI]
Certain data included herein are derived from the © Web of Science (2023) of Clarivate. All rights reserved.

Professional Associations

Association Function From / To
International Studies Association Member 01/03/2010 -
University Association for Contemporary European Studies Member 01/09/2014 -
Political Studies Association of Ireland Member 01/10/2011 -

Committees

Committee Function From / To
Future Earth Ireland Chair of Future Earth Ireland working group, convened by the Royal Irish Academy. FEI is the national working group of Future Earth global, a 10-year global research initiative to develop knowledge for responding effectively to the risks and opportunities of global environment change. 01/07/2019 -
All Island Climate and Biodiversity Research Network Executive Group Member of the core decision-making body of AICBRN, which aims to develop large-scale research and innovation to strengthen capacity to address the climate and biodiversity emergencies. 01/04/2021 -
Community Foundation for Ireland’s Advisory Committee on Climate and Biodiversity This committee is advising CFI’s work and strategy in this area, including their Environment and Nature Fund. 01/04/2022 -
Chartered Accountants Ireland Expert Working Group on Sustainability In January 2020 I was invited by Chartered Accountants Ireland to take up this position to help them shape their approach to sustainability. 01/01/2020 -
Political Studies Association of Ireland Executive Committee Elected a member of the PSAI’s Executive Committee at the AGM in October 2019. I am also a founding co-convenor of the Association’s Environmental Politics Specialist Group. 19/10/2019 -
Coalition 2030 Steering Committee Coalition 2030 Steering Committee academic advisory member. Coalition 2030 is an alliance of civil society organisations working together to ensure implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, both at home and abroad. 01/10/2019 -
Earth System Governance Project Research Fellow of the Earth System Governance Project, the largest global social science research network in the area of governance and global environmental change. 01/11/2015 -

Education

Start date Institution Qualification Subject
01/09/1999 University College Dublin BA Politics and Economics
01/10/2006 University of Oxford MPhil International Relations
01/10/2008 University of Oxford DPhil International Relations
01/09/2002 University College Dublin MA Politics

Research Interests

Climate change politics, policy, and governance at national, European, and global levels. I have particular interests in governance frameworks to enable transformative climate action, including deliberative democracy and framework climate legislation.

Research Projects

Title Role Description Start date End date
A Structured Evaluation of Ireland's Climate Policy Response DCU PI 01/02/2018 31/07/2019
Deepening public engagement on Climate Change: Lessons from the Citizens’ Assembly DCU PI 01/01/2019 31/10/2019
Governance for low carbon transition in Ireland DCU PI 01/09/2019 31/08/2023
Audacity for Partnerships: Foregrounding Partnership Development in the Generation of Sustainability Solutions DCU PI 01/09/2019 31/08/2020

Current Postgraduate Students

Student Name Degree Supervision
Howe ,Maeve PhD Supervisor

Teaching Interests

I am programme chair of DCU’s MSc in Climate Change: Policy, Media and Society. Established in 2018, this programme focuses on the policy, governance, and societal aspects of climate change. 

In 2021, I was awarded a DCU President’s Award for Teaching and Learning. This award was in recognition of my use of practice-based, active learning. I use simulations of UN climate change negotiations in my teaching of climate change politics, and I have facilitated my students to make submissions to climate policy public consultations, including on: Ireland’s National Energy and Climate Plan 2019; Long-Term Climate Strategy 2019; Dublin City Council Climate Action Plan 2019; Climate Action Plan 2021; and NESC’s Shared Island consultation.

I welcome applications from prospective research students interested in climate change politics and governance at national, European, and global levels.

Modules Coordinated

Term Title Subject
2022 Research Methodology LG5049
2022 Dissertation/Capstone project LG5048
2022 Climate Change Policy and Governance LG5034