Tuomas Palosaari

Tuomas Palosaari is a Lecturer and doctoral student in international law at the University of Eastern Finland (Law School, Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies). His research focuses on the effects and legitimacy of informal international instruments, particularly in climate change and environmental law contexts. He is affiliated with the CCEEL - The Center for Climate Change, Energy and Environmental Law. His work examines how non-binding instruments shape legal and political systems, emphasizing democratic deficits in global governance.

Key research areas include informal international law, soft law dynamics, climate governance, and environmental policy. His recent publications include analyses of cross-border disaster displacement in climate change contexts (2024), and the legitimacy of informal instruments (2025). He has also contributed to reviews of legal scholarship on environmental post-treaty rules (2020).

Palosaari’s work highlights the evolving role of non-binding agreements in shaping international norms and domestic legal interpretations, such as the use of informal instruments to influence judicial decisions on climate accountability. His research underscores the need for enhanced democratic engagement in global decision-making processes.