Laurel Besco

Laurel Besco is an Assistant Professor cross-appointed between the Department of Geography, Geomatics & Environment and the Institute for Management & Innovation at the University of Toronto Mississauga. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Ottawa, an M.A. from the University of Waterloo, and a B.E.S. from the University of Waterloo.

Besco's research examines innovative law and policy approaches for sustainability challenges, focusing on:

• Legal instruments for plastic pollution and aviation emissions
• Energy efficiency policy and industry norms
• Sustainable tourism frameworks
• Climate governance and carbon markets

Her publications demonstrate consistent focus on environmental policy design, with recent work on aviation decarbonization, circular economy transitions, and gender equity in climate finance. Research integrates empirical analysis of policy implementation with theoretical frameworks for governance innovation.

Besco leads research teams investigating aviation sustainability, plastic waste policy, and net-zero residential buildings. She supervises graduate students in geography and sustainability management, with current projects spanning sustainable tourism, energy retrofits, and Arctic destination competitiveness.

She teaches courses on sustainability law and policy (SSM1070), sustainable tourism (ENV205), and legal contexts of environmental issues (ENV430) at undergraduate and graduate levels.