School of Law

Dr Rebecca Williams

  • Lecturer in Environmental Law (School of Law)

Biography

I joined the Law School as a Lecturer in Environmental Law in September 2023. Previously, I worked at Edinburgh Napier University and the University of Strathclyde where I was the Interim Director of the Strathclyde Centre for Environmental Law and Governance. I completed my PhD at the European University Institute in Florence, Italy. 

My research interests include the intersection of the agricultural sector and environmental law and governance, particularly with respect to climate change, forests, nitrates management, trade, public health, food security and climate justice.  Beyond this, I have a general interest in international climate change law, environmental justice and inclusive legal oedagogy.

Research interests

My research interests include the intersection of the agricultural sector and environmental law and governance, particularly with respect to climate change, forests, nitrates management, trade, public health, food security and climate justice. My research spans international and European law in addition to other agricultural ‘hotspots’ such as South America. 

More generally, I have an interest in international climate change law and environmental justice. Alongside this, I have expertise in clinical legal education and pedagogy for teaching environmental and climate justice. I also have recognised experience in inclusive pedagogy, particularly relating to disability inclusion. 

Publications

List by: Type | Date

Jump to: 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021
Number of items: 17.

2026

Williams, Rebecca ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-7045-918X (2026) Emotional legitimacy in climate governance: the role of shame in the EU deforestation regulation. Carbon and Climate Law Review, 20(1), pp. 34-42. (doi: 10.21552/cclr/2026/1/6)

2025

Williams, Rebecca ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-7045-918X (2025) Transforming the Livestock Sector through Climate Change Mitigation Law [blog post]. (doi: 10.59704/6166d83a888d3fa7) [Website]

Grimes, Richard, Levett, Stephen, Samaras, Rebecca and Williams, Rebecca ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-7045-918X (Eds.) (2025) Teaching and Learning Climate and Environmental Justice in Law Schools: Global Perspectives on Transforming the Curriculum. Series: Legal pedagogy. Routledge. ISBN 9781032820477

Grimes, Richard, Levett, Stephen, Samaras, Rebecca and Williams, Rebecca ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-7045-918X (2025) Conclusion. In: Grimes, Richard, Levett, Stephen, Samaras, Rebecca and Williams, Rebecca (eds.) Teaching and Learning Climate and Environmental Justice in Law Schools: Global Perspectives on Transforming the Curriculum. Routledge. ISBN 9781032820477 (doi: 10.4324/9781003505006-23) (In Press)

Williams, Rebecca ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-7045-918X (2025) Addressing dimensions of environmental justice through experiential learning. In: Grimes, Richard, Levett, Stephen, Samaras, Rebecca and Williams, Rebecca (eds.) Teaching and Learning Climate and Environmental Justice in Law Schools: Global Perspectives on Transforming the Curriculum. Routledge. ISBN 9781032820477 (doi: 10.4324/9781003505006-6) (In Press)

2024

Williams, Rebecca ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-7045-918X (2024) Looking to livestock: gauging the evolution of the EU's agri-climate law and policy. Transnational Environmental Law, (doi: 10.1017/S2047102524000256) (Early Online Publication)

Stewart, Calum, MacNeil, Iain ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8174-4292, Jokubauskaite, Giedre, Pavlou, Vera ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0048-0799, Williams, Rebecca ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-7045-918X, Droubi, Sufyan, Chalaczkiewicz-Ladna, Katarzyna ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3532-3566 and Shapovalova, Daria (2024) Situating Just Transition as a distinct legal concept. SSRN,

Williams, Rebecca ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-7045-918X (2024) Climate Change, Cattle, and the International Legal Order. Bloomsbury. ISBN 9781509968589 (doi: 10.5040/9781509968619)

Cureton, D. et al. (2024) The lives of early career researchers. Project Report. Higher Education Policy Institute.

2023

Williams, Rebecca ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-7045-918X (2023) Law and policy can support sustainable diets. Communications Earth and Environment, 4, 375. (doi: 10.1038/s43247-023-01038-3)

McKenzie, K. et al. (2023) Equity in Global Health Law. Project Report. University of Strathclyde.

2022

Williams, Rebecca ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-7045-918X (2022) Navigating chronic illness in academia: an early career perspective. [Website]

Williams, Rebecca ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-7045-918X (2022) Climate Justice and University Law Clinics: Filling the Gap?’. [Website]

2021

Williams, Rebecca ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-7045-918X and Hubbard, Alice (2021) I giovani delusi dai leader nazionali dopo la COP26. [Website]

Hubbard, Alice and Williams, Rebecca ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-7045-918X (2021) Who’s missing from climate governance? Global South youth participation and mobilisation. Other. European University Institute School of Transnational Governance, Florence. (doi: 10.2870/508676).

Munro, Rebecca and Williams, Rebecca ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-7045-918X (2021) Caught in the (red)act: insights from the Van Duyn dossier. European Papers: A Journal of Law and Integration, 6(1), pp. 589-598. (doi: 10.15166/2499-8249/487)

Munro, Rebecca and Williams, Rebecca ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-7045-918X (2021) The Court of Justice in the Archives Project: Analysis of the Van Duyn case (41/74). Working Paper. European University Institute.

This list was generated on Tue Jun 23 00:00:23 2026 BST.
Jump to: Articles | Books | Book Sections | Edited Books | Research Reports or Papers | Website
Number of items: 17.

Articles

Williams, Rebecca ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-7045-918X (2026) Emotional legitimacy in climate governance: the role of shame in the EU deforestation regulation. Carbon and Climate Law Review, 20(1), pp. 34-42. (doi: 10.21552/cclr/2026/1/6)

Williams, Rebecca ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-7045-918X (2024) Looking to livestock: gauging the evolution of the EU's agri-climate law and policy. Transnational Environmental Law, (doi: 10.1017/S2047102524000256) (Early Online Publication)

Stewart, Calum, MacNeil, Iain ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8174-4292, Jokubauskaite, Giedre, Pavlou, Vera ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0048-0799, Williams, Rebecca ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-7045-918X, Droubi, Sufyan, Chalaczkiewicz-Ladna, Katarzyna ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3532-3566 and Shapovalova, Daria (2024) Situating Just Transition as a distinct legal concept. SSRN,

Williams, Rebecca ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-7045-918X (2023) Law and policy can support sustainable diets. Communications Earth and Environment, 4, 375. (doi: 10.1038/s43247-023-01038-3)

Munro, Rebecca and Williams, Rebecca ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-7045-918X (2021) Caught in the (red)act: insights from the Van Duyn dossier. European Papers: A Journal of Law and Integration, 6(1), pp. 589-598. (doi: 10.15166/2499-8249/487)

Books

Williams, Rebecca ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-7045-918X (2024) Climate Change, Cattle, and the International Legal Order. Bloomsbury. ISBN 9781509968589 (doi: 10.5040/9781509968619)

Book Sections

Grimes, Richard, Levett, Stephen, Samaras, Rebecca and Williams, Rebecca ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-7045-918X (2025) Conclusion. In: Grimes, Richard, Levett, Stephen, Samaras, Rebecca and Williams, Rebecca (eds.) Teaching and Learning Climate and Environmental Justice in Law Schools: Global Perspectives on Transforming the Curriculum. Routledge. ISBN 9781032820477 (doi: 10.4324/9781003505006-23) (In Press)

Williams, Rebecca ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-7045-918X (2025) Addressing dimensions of environmental justice through experiential learning. In: Grimes, Richard, Levett, Stephen, Samaras, Rebecca and Williams, Rebecca (eds.) Teaching and Learning Climate and Environmental Justice in Law Schools: Global Perspectives on Transforming the Curriculum. Routledge. ISBN 9781032820477 (doi: 10.4324/9781003505006-6) (In Press)

Edited Books

Grimes, Richard, Levett, Stephen, Samaras, Rebecca and Williams, Rebecca ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-7045-918X (Eds.) (2025) Teaching and Learning Climate and Environmental Justice in Law Schools: Global Perspectives on Transforming the Curriculum. Series: Legal pedagogy. Routledge. ISBN 9781032820477

Research Reports or Papers

Cureton, D. et al. (2024) The lives of early career researchers. Project Report. Higher Education Policy Institute.

McKenzie, K. et al. (2023) Equity in Global Health Law. Project Report. University of Strathclyde.

Hubbard, Alice and Williams, Rebecca ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-7045-918X (2021) Who’s missing from climate governance? Global South youth participation and mobilisation. Other. European University Institute School of Transnational Governance, Florence. (doi: 10.2870/508676).

Munro, Rebecca and Williams, Rebecca ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-7045-918X (2021) The Court of Justice in the Archives Project: Analysis of the Van Duyn case (41/74). Working Paper. European University Institute.

Website

Williams, Rebecca ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-7045-918X (2025) Transforming the Livestock Sector through Climate Change Mitigation Law [blog post]. (doi: 10.59704/6166d83a888d3fa7) [Website]

Williams, Rebecca ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-7045-918X (2022) Navigating chronic illness in academia: an early career perspective. [Website]

Williams, Rebecca ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-7045-918X (2022) Climate Justice and University Law Clinics: Filling the Gap?’. [Website]

Williams, Rebecca ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-7045-918X and Hubbard, Alice (2021) I giovani delusi dai leader nazionali dopo la COP26. [Website]

This list was generated on Tue Jun 23 00:00:23 2026 BST.

Supervision

I am open to supervise or co-supervise projects on environmental or climate law and governance, and particularly in relation to their intersection with agricultural issues or social justice. I am open to co-supervising interdisciplinary projects with legal or policy dimensions on environmental issues.

I currently am part of the supervision team for the following projects:

  • Xinbo Zhang 

PFAS Policy under Extreme Hydrological Conditions: Implications for Flood-Driven Contaminant Transport and Environmental Risk

Teaching

At Glasgow I teach on the following courses:

  • Enviromental Law (Level 2)
  • Law and Sustainability (Honours)
  • Climate Change Law (LLM)
  • Fundamentals of Environmental Justice (LLM)

I am also an Academic Supervisor for the Glasgow's Environmental Justice Clinic, where students work with the Environmental Rights Centre Scotland on policy issues within Scotland. 

 

Additional information

I am the Law School's Disability Officer, and sit on both the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Committee and the School's Decolonisation Forum.