Eliza Northrop

Associate II, International Climate Initiative

Bio

Eliza Northrop is an Associate in the International Climate Action Initiative. She is an international environmental lawyer with expertise in climate change, indigenous rights and governance. Her work focuses primarily on international climate law and policy issues, in particular the design and implementation of the Paris Agreement.

Prior to joining WRI, Eliza acted as a legal advisor to the Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Tonga to the UN during the 68th session of the General Assembly. Eliza previously worked as a negotiator and policy advisor for the resolution of native title in Australia, facilitating entry into over nine co-management arrangements and fifteen indigenous land use agreements. She has also served as a member of the Commonwealth Indigenous Protected Areas Subcommittee. Eliza has also practiced in the areas of environmental and property law in Australia.

Eliza holds a Master of Environmental Law from New York University School of Law, a Master of Business Administration from the University of South Australia School of Business, a Bachelor of Laws (Honors) from the University of Adelaide School of Law, and a Bachelor of Arts (Environmental Studies) from the University of Adelaide. Eliza has a great love of travel and food, combining both whenever possible.

Blog Posts

From Bangkok to Katowice: Success at COP24 Requires All Hands on Deck
by Yamide Dagnet, Joe Thwaites, Nathan Cogswell, Cynthia Elliott and Eliza Northrop - September 13, 2018
Talks in Bangkok, meant to set the stage for COP24, made some progress—and laid bare the many issues that negotiators must find the will to resolve for a successful 2018 COP in Katowice, Poland.
Ocean Conservation Is an Untapped Strategy for Fighting Climate Change
by Eliza Northrop - June 08, 2018
The ocean contributes $1.5 trillion to the global economy every year. But there's another reason to protect marine ecosystems—they’re crucial for curbing climate change.
7 Signs of Progress: A Year of National Climate Action
by Eliza Northrop - May 29, 2018
From phasing out coal to banning oil drilling, several nations stepped up their climate action this year. A new timeline tracks climate announcements.
Bonn Climate Talks Yield Some — But Not Enough — Progress Putting the Paris Agreement Fully Into Motion
by Paula Caballero, David Waskow, Yamide Dagnet, Eliza Northrop and Joe Thwaites - May 11, 2018
Negotiators made progress in a number of areas at the latest UN climate talks, which wrapped on May 10, but an overburdened agenda left them with a lot more ground to cover before the big climate summit (COP24) in Poland this December.
At Climate Talks, a “Bicycle” Built for Bonn
by David Waskow, Yamide Dagnet, Eliza Northrop and Joe Thwaites - May 01, 2018
Climate negotiators in Bonn this week will focus on developing a rulebook to implement the historic accord and assessing the strengthened action needed to put the world on track to meet its goals. They can’t choose one or the other; they must have this dual focus. It’s a bit like riding a bicycle: both wheels need to turn to move forward.
Through Talanoa Dialogue, New Paths for Enhanced Action on Climate Change Are Emerging
by Eliza Northrop and Nathan Cogswell - April 27, 2018
Members of the international community are meeting in Bonn to continue the Talanoa Dialogue, a year-long process designed to evaluate current NDCs. As hundreds of submissions highlight the potential of existing commitments and the urgency to enhance them, key messages are beginning to emerge.
Talanoa Dialogue: Jump-Starting Climate Action in 2018
by David Waskow and Eliza Northrop - February 02, 2018
With the launch of the 2018 Talanoa Dialogue in January, countries are now embarking on the first global assessment of efforts to achieve the Paris Agreement on climate change. These "global stocktakes" are a core part of the Agreement's five-year cycles to ramp up ambition and action.
3 New Ways to Explore Links Between Climate and Sustainable Development
by Eliza Northrop and Alexander Tankou - December 11, 2017
To help decision-makers integrate the aims of the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, a new Climate Watch tool finds links between countries' climate action commitments and the Sustainable Development Goals.
Despite Some Major Bumps, Bonn Climate Summit Got the Job Done
by Paula Caballero, Christina Chan, David Waskow, Kathleen Mogelgaard, Eliza Northrop, Yamide Dagnet, Joe Thwaites and Rhys Gerholdt - November 20, 2017
What went down at COP23? Here's the summary of progress in seven key areas, from the Paris Rulebook to gender and indigenous protections.
Open Government Reforms Accelerate Action on Climate and Sustainable Development
by Mark Robinson, Eliza Northrop, Peter Veit and Jessica Webb - November 20, 2017
In Costa Rica, Liberia and Brazil advances in transparent, participatory governance are empowering citizens and ensuring better environmental and development outcomes.