I have three evolving, interwoven research threads, focusing on the postmodern justice, regulation, and governance (theoretical fields) aspects of climate change and the transition to low-carbon societies. I label them as follows: climate change and low-carbon transition impacts, low-carbon transition technologies and social systems, and sustainable public and private finance (substantive fields). So far, I have investigated topics under these threads through doctrinal legal analysis (the traditional method of interpreting and applying laws, focusing more on the understanding and enforcement of such laws through courts and less on the implications for the broader society), policy analysis, risk analysis, comparative analysis, case study analysis, participant observation, key informant participation and interviews (methods).

Also, I continue to contribute to the general thinking on environmental and development law and policy in energy and, increasingly, other sectors. Often, I consider making these contributions when opportunities arise to educate non-experts in environmental and development law and policy, including students, policymakers and business directors, executives and professionals. For instance, I have contributed to textbooks, policy and industry guides, and media publications. 

These threads of research have been supported by a variety of funders and benefited several organziations. Major Canadian funders have included the Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada, Canada Climate Law Initiative, Liu Institute for Global Issues, Peter A. Allard School of Law and Real Property Association of Canada, and I have received funding from Law and Society Association and National Science Foundation in the United States. The Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures, the World Bank, United Nations agencies, the Group of Seven, the African Bar Association, Canadian federal and provincial governments, the Toronto Stock Exchange, the United Kingdom Parliament, the Central Bank of Malaysia, and other policy and business organizations have used my work in various ways. 

1. Climate Change and Low-carbon Transition Impacts

My research on climate change and low-carbon transition impacts fills significant gaps in predominant climate policy thinking, which mostly focuses on using technologies, markets, and self-regulation to address climate and low-carbon transition challenges without paying much attention to the people, communities, and businesses that are disproportionately impacted. Using critical justice and decolonization theories, I consider such disproportionate impacts and how to address them. For instance, I have designed and led the “Re-Imagining Agenda 2063” project to understand what the constraints imposed by climate change, the net-zero agenda, biodiversity loss and other global challenges mean for sustainable development in Africa and have conceptualized and contextualized differential treatment and climate justice issues such as adaptation, loss and damage, and policy participation.

Publications under this thread include:

• Onifade, T.T. & Akinbola, I.I. (2023) “Regulating Climate Change in Tourism: Implications of International Governance and Law for Destination Competitiveness in Africa” in Roselyne N. Okech, Damianah M. Kieti and Rene van der Duim, eds, Climate Change, Biodiversity and Sustainability in Africa: Implications on Tourism [forthcoming]
• Onifade, T.T. (2023) “A Model of Climate Governance: An Interorganizational Complex Framework” in Sarra, J. and Stewart, F. eds, Reflections on Connecting Canada’s Climate Policy Network (Canada Climate Law Initiative, UBC) [forthcoming]
• Onifade, T.T. (2022) “Low-Carbon Justice in Canada’s Net-Zero Transition” Energy Humanities (Transitions in Energy, Culture, and Society Project, University of Alberta, and University of Waterloo)
• Onifade, T.T. (2021) “Climate Justice under the Paris Agreement: Framework and Substance” 15(3) Carbon & Climate Law Review (Lexxion)
• Onifade, T.T.  (2015) “Peoples-based Permanent Sovereignty over Natural Resources: Toward Functional Distributive Justice?” 16(4) Human Rights Review 343 (Springer Nature)
• Onifade, T.T. & Orifowomo, O.A. (2015) “Differential Treatment in International Environmental Law and the Climate Regime: From ‘Common but Differentiated Responsibilities’ to ‘Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities’” 5 University of Ibadan Journal of Public & International Law 1 (Faculty of Law, University of Ibadan)

II. Low-carbon Transition Technologies and Social Systems

I produce knowledge on the laws and policies that support the integration of sustainable, low-carbon transition technologies into markets and other social systems. For instance, I conceptualized hybrid renewable energy policy, which combines private contracts and market regulation, in a top journal (Energy Policy, 2016), and my Ph.D. builds on this idea to theorize hybrid low-carbon regulation that could enhance clean energy technologies and financial schemes such as “technology funds.” Unlike direct government investment and public-private partnerships, “technology fund” programmes allocate funding to specific stages of innovative technologies, such as technology development and demonstration, as a mechanism to enhance low-carbon transition. The administration of such funds would have a measure of independence from governments, even if the money comes from public revenues, to reduce business perception of government interference which could stifle innovation.

Publications under this thread include:

• Onifade, T.T. (2016) “Hybrid Renewable Energy Support Policy in the Power Sector: The Contracts for Difference and Capacity Market Case Study” 95 Energy Policy 390 (Elsevier)
• Onifade, T.T. (2015) “Global Clues for Choosing Suitable Support Systems for Renewable Energy in the Power Sector” 6(1) Renewable Energy Law and Policy Review 25 (Lexxion)
• Onifade, T.T. (2015) “Renewable Energy in Nigeria: A Peep into Science, a Conclusion on Policy” 1(1) International Journal for Innovations in Science, Business & Technology 49 (Worldwide Holistic Sustainable Development Cooperation, Grenfell Campus, Memorial University)
• Onifade, T.T. (2015) "India's Renewable Energy Scheme: Policy Response to Environmental Challenges"1(1) Journal for Worldwide Holistic Sustainable Development 1. 

III. Sustainable Public and Private Finance

I investigate government and business sources of finance for low-carbon societies and how to regulate them. For instance, I have studied the regulation and governance of sources such as tariffs, taxes, royalties, subsidies, sovereign wealth funds, natural resource funds, and multilateral climate funds, including their promise in developed and developing countries. Another important aspect of my work under this thread is the regulation and governance of sustainable finance sources. Such sources can only enhance the transition to low-carbon societies with proper government regulation and corporate and financial governance. Therefore, I also research the legal duties (fiduciary, contractual, tortious, voluntary and others) of regulators, corporate directors, and executives, and professionals in managing these sources (fiduciary and non-fiduciary), and the effective policy and corporate governance practices to enhance their work. 

Publications under this thread include:

• Onifade, T.T. & Tooze, H. (2022) A Guide to Effective Climate Governance in the Canadian Commercial Real Estate Sector: Building for the Net-Zero Future (Canada Climate Law Initiative, UBC)
• Onifade, T.T. (2022). Fossil Fuel Subsidies in Canada: Governance Implications in the Net-Zero Transition (Canada Climate Law Initiative, UBC)
• Olawuyi, DS & Onifade, T.T. (2018) “Promoting Functional Distributive Justice in the Nigerian Sovereign Wealth Fund System: Lessons from Alaska and Norway” in Eboe-Osuji, C. and Emeseh, E., eds, The Nigerian Yearbook of International Law 2017 317 (Springer Nature)
• Onifade, T.T. (2017) “Alberta, Canada, Royalty Review and Its Lessons for Resource Economies” 35(2) Journal of Energy and Natural Resources Law 171 (Taylor & Francis)
• Onifade, T.T. (2017) “Regulating Natural Resource Funds: Alaska Permanent Fund, Alberta Heritage Trust Fund and Government Pension Fund of Norway” 6(2) Global Journal of Comparative Law 138 (Brill)

4. Environmental and development law

My environmental and natural resource law thread addresses other topics that interest me but do not fit neatly under my main research threads. For instance, I have written about biodiversity legal risks globally, environmental laws in Africa, and remedies in environmental law in Nigeria.

Publications under this thread include:

• Barker, S., Mulholland, E., and Onifade, T.T. (2020) The Emergence of Foreseeable Biodiversity-related Liability Risks for Financial Institutions: A Gathering Storm? (Commonwealth Climate and Law Initiative, University of Oxford)
• Onifade, T.T. (2019) “Environmental Law in Africa’s Non-renewable Extractive Sectors” in Worika IL, Olivier ME & Maduekwe N.C., eds, The Environment, Legal Issues and Critical Policies: An African Perspective 229 (International Bar Association and LexisNexis)
• Akinbola, BR & Onifade, T.T. (2013) “Legal and Administrative Remedies in Environmental Law in Nigeria: Reform Proposition” 1 Afe Babalola University Ado-Ekiti Law Journal 320 (College of Law, Afe Babalola University)