Emily Lydgate

Emily Lydgate is a Professor of Environmental Law at the University of Sussex, holding dual roles as Co-Director of the UK Trade Policy Observatory (UKTPO) and Deputy Director of the Centre for Inclusive Trade Policy (CITP). She holds a PhD from King's College London and an MSc from Oxford University. Her research focuses on reconciling environmental protection with international trade, particularly exploring how trade policies can advance sustainability goals. She has advised the UK Parliament's Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Committee from 2021-2024 and contributes to high-level policy dialogues through roles at Chatham House and the UN Environment Programme.

Her academic work emphasizes climate equivalence principles, carbon border adjustments, and the integration of environmental norms into trade agreements. Key projects include analyzing EU Free Trade Agreements' impact on sustainable agriculture and advising the UK Committee on Climate Change on trade policy reforms. She has published widely on post-Brexit regulatory challenges, WTO compliance, and the legal dimensions of green trade policies.

Prof Lydgate leads interdisciplinary research teams funded by ESRC, EU Horizon 2020, and UKRI grants. Her work bridges law, economics, and policy, with recent focus on border carbon adjustments, LDC exemptions, and digital technology's climate impacts. She teaches international trade law, environmental governance, and EU law, mentoring PhD students in trade-environment intersections.

Her professional activities include over a decade of parliamentary testimony on trade, climate, and regulatory policy, alongside advisory roles for governments and international organizations. She co-leads initiatives like the Centre for Inclusive Trade Policy, promoting equitable global trade frameworks that align with climate goals.