Graeme Auld

BSc in Forestry (University of British Columbia, Canada)
MSc in Forest Policy (Auburn University, United States)
PhD in Environmental Politics (Yale University, United States)
Graeme’s research focuses on comparative environmental politics and policy, global environmental governance, and the rise of private governance and authority. Much of his work examines the formation, evolution, and impacts of non-state and hybrid forms of global governance across economic sectors. He also researches the design and efficacy of policy aimed at tackling global problems such as climate change.
I grew up in BC and attended UBC in the early 1990s, just as disputes over logging coastal BC forests were capturing national and international attention. The conflict grabbed my interest. I was left pondering the causes of what appeared to be an intractable disagreement over how resources ought to be managed and protected. In the years since, I’ve studied the politics surrounding the use, management, and conservation of resources and the environment across geographic scales. I have paid particular attention to the rise of private certification programs – initiatives like fairtrade – that set standards for responsible business practice and award compliant companies with reputational or market benefits. Where have these initiatives come from? How do they work? Why do companies adhere to their rules? How do they establish their authority and legitimacy? What problems are they likely to solve? I use qualitative and quantitative data and methods to study these kinds of questions, with the aim of understanding how private governance compares to traditional forms of public policy, how the two interact, and what all of this might mean for attempts to govern our collective human footprint.

• Leslie A. Pal, Graeme Auld, Alexandra Mallett, 2020, Beyond Policy Analysis: Public Issue Management in Turbulent Times, 6th Edition, Nelson Education and TopHat.
• G. Bruce Doern, Graeme Auld and Christopher Stoney, 2015 Green-Lite: Complexity in Fifty Years of Canadian Environmental Policy, Governance, and Democracy, McGill-Queen’s University Press: Montreal, Kingston
• Graeme Auld, 2014 Constructing Private Governance: The Rise and Evolution of Forest, Coffee, and Fisheries Certification, Yale University Press: New Haven.
• Benjamin Cashore, Graeme Auld, and Deanna Newsom, 2004 Governing through Markets: Forest Certification and the Emergence of Non-State Authority Yale University Press: New Haven.

• Laurenne Schiller, Gregory L. Britten, Graeme Auld, & Boris Worm, 2024. “Learning from Positive Deviants in Fisheries” Fish & Fisheries
• Steven J. Cooke, Justine Vermey, Jess J. Taylor, Tina Rytwinski, William M. Twarde, Graeme Auld, Rik Van Bogaert, & Alex L. MacDonald, Forthcoming “A policy scan related to assisted migration as a climate change adaptation tactic in Canada reveals major policy gaps” FACETS
• Sarah Michaels, Graeme Auld, Steven J. Cooke, Nathan Young, Joseph R. Bennett, & Jesse C. Vermaire, 2023 “Conservation, uncertainty, and intellectual humility” Environmental Conservation 50(4): 196-201
• Schiller, Laurenne, Megan Bailey, Hekia Bodwitch, Hussain Sinan, and Graeme Auld. “Evaluating the roles and reach of philanthropic foundations in sustainability efforts for tuna.” Conservation Science and Practice (2022): e12751.
• Laurenne Schiller, Graeme Auld, Quentin Hanich, & Megan Bailey, 2023 “Increasing industry involvement in international tuna fishery negotiations” One Earth 6(1): 41-54
• Graeme Auld, Ashley Casovan, Amanda Clarke & Benjamin Faveri. “Governing AI through ethical standards: learning from the experiences of other private governance initiatives.” Journal of European Public Policy (2022): 1-23.
• Steven J. Cooke, Sarah Michaels, Elizabeth A. Nyboer, Laurenne Schiller, Danika B. R. Littlechild, Dalal Hanna, Courtney D. Robichaud, A. Murdoch, Dominique Roche, Peter.Soroye, Jesse C. Vermaire, Vivian M. Nguyen, Nathan Young, Jennifer F. Provencher, Paul A. Smith, Gregory W. Mitchell, Stephanie Avery-Gomm, Christina M. Davy, Rachel T. Buxton, Trina Rytwinski, Lenore Fahrig, Joseph R. Bennett, and Graeme Auld, 2022 “Reconceptualizing Conservation.” PLOS Sustainability and Transformation
• Graeme Auld, Steven Bernstein, Benjamin Cashore & Kelly Levin, 2021 “Managing Pandemics as Super Wicked Problems: Lessons from, and for, COVID-19 and the Climate Crisis.” Policy Sciences 54, 707–728
• Jen Iris Allan, Graeme Auld, Tim Cadman, & Hayley Stevenson, 2021 “Comparative Fortunes of Ecosystem Services as an International Governance Concept.” Global Policy, e13036
• Laurenne Schiller, Graeme Auld, Hussain Sinan & Megan Bailey 2021 “Decadal changes in international advocacy toward the conservation of highly migratory fishes” Conservation Letters
• Elizabeth A. Nyboer, Vivian M. Nguyen, Nathan Young, Trina Rytwinski, Jessica J. Taylor, John Francis Lane, Joseph R. Bennett, Nathan Harron, Susan Aitken, Graeme Auld, David Browne, Aerin Jacob, Kent Prior, Paul A. Smith, Karen E. Smokorowski, Steven Alexander, and Steven J. Cooke, Forthcoming “Supporting Actionable Science for Environmental Policy: Advice for Funding Agencies from Decision Makers” Frontiers in Conservation Science
• Laura Thomas-Walters, Elizabeth A. Nyboer, Jessica J.Taylor, Trina Rytwinski,John F. Lane, Nathan Young, Joseph R. Bennett, Vivian M. Nguyen, Nathan Harron, Susan Aitken, Graeme Auld, David Browne, Aerin Jacob, Kent Prior, Paul A. Smith, Karen E. Smokorowski, and Steven J. Cooke, 2021 “An optimistic outlook on the use of evidence syntheses to inform environmental decision-making” Conservation Science and Practice 3(6): e246
• Graeme Auld and Stefan Renckens 2021 “Private Sustainability Governance, the Global South and COVID-19: Are Changes to Audit Policies in light of the Pandemic Exacerbating Existing Inequalities?” World Development 139: 105314
• Hayley Stevenson, Graeme Auld, Jen Iris Allan, Lorraine Elliott, and James Meadowcroft 2021 “The Practical Fit of Concepts: Ecosystem Services and the Value of Nature” Global Environmental Politics 21(2): 3-22
• Stefan Renckens and Graeme Auld 2020 “Time to Certify: Explaining Varying Efficiency of Private Regulatory Audits” Regulation & Governance
• Steven J. Cooke, Trina Rytwinski, Jessica J. Taylor, Elizabeth Nyboer, Vivian M. Nguyen, Joseph R. Bennett, Nathan Young, Susan Aitken, Graeme Auld, John-Francis Lane, Kent Prior, Karen E. Smokorowski, Paul A. Smith, Aerin L. Jacob, David Brown, Jules M. Blais, Jeremy T. Kerr, Banu Ormeci, Steven M. Alexander, Christopher R. Burn, Rachel T. Buxton, Diane M. Orihel, Jesse Vermaire, Dennis L. Murray, Patrice Simon, Kate Edwards, John Clarke, Marguerite A. Xenopoulos, Irene Gregory-Eaves, Elena M. Bennett, and John P. Smol. 2020 “On “success” in applied environmental research – What is it, how can it be achieved, and how does one know when it has been achieved?” Environmental Reviews
• Janina Grabs, Graeme Auld, and Benjamin Cashore 2020 “Private Regulation, Public Policy, and the Perils of Adverse Ontological Selection” Regulation & Governance
• Graeme Auld, 2020 “Transforming Markets? Activists’ Strategic Engagement with Private Governance” Organization and Environment 33(1): 31-55
• Luc Fransen, Jelmer Schalk, and Graeme Auld, 2020 “Community Structure and the Behavior of Transnational Sustainability Governors: Towards a Multi-Relational Approach” Regulation & Governance 14(1): 3-25
• Stefan Renckens and Graeme Auld, 2019 “Structure, Path Dependence, and Adaptation: North-South Imbalances in Transnational Private Fisheries Governance” Ecological Economics 106: 106422
• Philip Schleifer, Matteo Fiorini, and Graeme Auld 2019 “Transparency in Transnational Governance: The Determinants of Information Disclosure of Voluntary Sustainability Programs” Regulation & Governance 13(4): 488-506
• Luc Fransen, Jelmer Schalk, Marcel Kok, Vivek Voora, Jason Potts, Max Joosten, Philip Schleifer, and Graeme Auld, 2018 “Biodiversity Protection through Networks of Voluntary Sustainability Standard Organizations?” Sustainability 10(12), 4379
• Graeme Auld, Michele Betsill, and Stacy VanDeveer, 2018 “Transnational Governance for Mining and the Minerals Lifecycle” Annual Review of Environment and Resources 43: 425-453
• Bryan Foster, Deane Wang, Graeme Auld, and Rosa Maria Roman Cuesta, 2017 “Assessing Audit Impact and Thoroughness of VCS Forest Carbon Offset Projects” Environmental Science and Policy 78(December): 121-141
• Kendra Sakaguchi, Anil Varughese, and Graeme Auld, 2017 “Climate Wars? A Systematic Review of Empirical Analyses on the Links between Climate Change and Violent Conflict” International Studies Review 19(4): 622-645
• Graeme Auld and Stefan Renckens, 2017 “Rule-Making Feedbacks Through Intermediation and Evaluation in Transnational Private Governance” The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Sciences 670(1): 93-111
• Jessica F. Green and Graeme Auld, 2017 “Unbundling the Regime Complex: The Effects of Private Authority” Transnational Environmental Law 6(2): 259-284
• Steven J. Cooke, Jake C. Rice, Kent A. Prior, Robin Bloom, Olaf Jensen, David R. Browne, Lisa A. Donaldson, Joseph R. Bennett, Jesse C. Vermaire, and Graeme Auld 2016 “The Canadian Context for Evidence-Based Conservation and Environmental Management” Environmental Evidence 14(5): 1-9
• Lars H. Gulbrandsen and Graeme Auld, 2016 “Contested Accountability Logics in Evolving Nonstate Certification for Fisheries Sustainability” Global Environmental Politics 16(2): 42-60
• Luc Fransen, Jelmer Schalk, and Graeme Auld, 2016 “Work Ties Beget Community? Assessing Interactions among Transnational Private Governance Organizations in Sustainable Agriculture” Global Networks 16(1): 45-67
• Graeme Auld and Lars H. Gulbrandsen, 2015 “Diversifying Nature Protection: Evaluating the Changing Tools for Forest Protection in Canada and Norway” Review of Policy Research 32(6): 699-722
• Urs Dieterich and Graeme Auld, 2015 “Moving Beyond Commitments: Creating Durable Change through the Implementation of Asia Pulp and Paper’s Forest Conservation Policy” Journal of Cleaner Production 107 (November): 54-63
• Graeme Auld, Stefan Renckens, and Benjamin Cashore, 2015 “Transnational Private Governance between the Logics of Empowerment and Control” Regulation & Governance 9(2): 108-124
• Graeme Auld, Alexandra Mallett, Bozica Burlica, Francis Nolan-Poupart, and Robert Slater, 2014 “Evaluating the Effects of Policy Innovations: Lessons From a Systematic Review of Policies Promoting Low-Carbon Technology” Global Environmental Change 29 (November): 444-458
• Graeme Auld, 2014 “Confronting Trade-offs and Interactive Effects in the Choice of Policy Focus: Specialized versus Comprehensive Private Governance” Regulation & Governance 8(1): 126-148
• Norichika Kanie, Peter M. Haas, Steinar Andresen, Graeme Auld, Benjamin Cashore, Pamela S. Chasek, Jose Antonio Puppim de Oliverira, Stefan Renckens, Olav Schram Stokke, Casey Stevens, Stacy VanDeveer, and Masahiko Iguchi, 2013 “Green Pluralism: Lessons from Pluralistic Configuration of Actors for Improved Environmental Governance” Environment: Science and Policy for Sustainable Development 55(5): 14-30
• Thomas Sikor, Graeme Auld, Anthony J. Beddington, Tor A. Benjaminsen, Bradford S. Gentry, Carol A. Hunsberger, Anne-Marie Izac, Matias E. Margulis, Tobias Plieninger, Heike Schroeder, and Caroline Upton, 2013 “Global Land Governance: From Territory to Flow” Current Opinions in Environmental Sustainability 5(5): 522-527
• Graeme Auld and Benjamin Cashore, 2013 “Mixed Signals: NGO Campaigns and Non-State Market Driven (NSMD) Governance in an Export-Oriented Country” Canadian Public Policy 39(s2): 143-156
• Kelly Levin, Benjamin Cashore, Steven Bernstein, and Graeme Auld, 2012 “Overcoming the Tragedy of Super Wicked Problems: Constraining our Future Selves to Ameliorate Global Climate Change” Policy Sciences 45(2): 123-152
• Graeme Auld, Benjamin Cashore, Cristina Balboa, Laura Bozzi, and Stefan Renckens, 2010 “Can Technological Innovations Improve Private Regulation in the Global Economy?” Business and Politics 12(3): Article 9.
• Graeme Auld and Lars H. Gulbrandsen, 2010 “Transparency in Nonstate Certification: Consequences for Accountability and Legitimacy,” Global Environmental Politics 10(3): 97-119.
• Graeme Auld, 2010 “Assessing Certification as Governance: Effects and Broader Consequences for Coffee,” Journal of Environment and Development 19(2): 215-241.
• Graeme Auld, Lars H. Gulbrandsen, and Constance L. McDermott, 2008 “Certification Schemes and the Impact on Forests and Forestry,” Annual Review of Environment and Resources 33: 187-211.
• Graeme Auld, Steven Bernstein, and Benjamin Cashore, 2008 “The New Corporate Social Responsibility,” Annual Review of Environment and Resources 33: 413-435.
• Benjamin Cashore, Graeme Auld, James Lawson and Deanna Newsom, 2007 “The Post-state Staples Economy: The Impact of Forest Certification as a Non-state Market Driven Governance system,” Policy and Society 26(1): 71-91.
• Benjamin Cashore, Graeme Auld, Steven Bernstein, and Constance L. McDermott, 2007 “Can Non-state Governance ‘Ratchet Up’ Global Environmental Standards? Lessons from the Forest Sector,” Review of European Community and International Environmental Law 16(2): 158-172.
• Benjamin Cashore, Elisabeth Egan, Graeme Auld, and Deanna Newsom, 2007 “Revised Theories of Nonstate Market-Driven (NSMD) Governance: Lessons from the Finnish Forest Certification Experience,” Global Environmental Politics 7(1): 1-44.
• Graeme Auld, 2006 “Choosing How to be Green: An Examination of Domtar Inc.’s Approach to Forest Certification,” Journal of Strategic Management Education 3: 37-92.
• Erika Sasser, Aseem Prakash, Benjamin Cashore, and Graeme Auld, 2006 “Direct Targeting as an NGO Political Strategy: Examining Private Authority Regimes in the Forestry Sector,” Business and Politics 8(3): Article 1.
• Benjamin Cashore, G. Cornelis van Kooten, Ilan Vertinsky, Graeme Auld, and Julia Affolderbach, 2005 “Private or Self-Regulation? A Comparative Study of Forest Certification Choices in Canada, the United States, and Germany,” Journal of Forest Policy and Economics 7(1): 53-69.
• Benjamin Cashore, Graeme Auld, and Deanna Newsom, 2003 “The United States’ Race to Certify Sustainable Forestry: Non-State Environmental Governance and the Competition for Policy-Making Authority,” Business and Politics 5(3): Article 1.
• Benjamin Cashore and Graeme Auld, 2003 “Understanding the British Columbia Environmental Forestry Policy Record in Perspective,” Journal of Forestry 101(8): 42-47.
• Graeme Auld and Gary Q. Bull, 2003 “The Institutional Design of Forest Certification Standards Initiatives and its Influence on the Role of Science: the Case of Forest Genetic Resources,” Journal of Environmental Management 69(1): 47-62.
• Benjamin Cashore, Graeme Auld, and Deanna Newsom, 2003 “Forest Certification (Eco-labeling) Programs and their Policy-Making Authority: Explaining Divergence Among North American and European Case Studies,” Journal of Forest Policy and Economics 5(3): 225-247.

• Benjamin Cashore, Graeme Auld and Stefan Renckens, 2020 “Labeling and Certification” in A. Orsini and J-F Morin (eds.) Essential Concepts in Global Environmental Governance, 2nd Edition, London: Routledge / Earthscan
• Scott McIlveen, Riley Schnurr, Graeme Auld, Shannon Arnold, Keith Flett, and Megan Bailey, 2019 “The path to credibility for the Marine Stewardship Council” In Vogt M, Jonell M, and Bailey M. (eds.) Sustainability Certifications Schemes in the Agricultural and Natural Resource Sectors. London: Routledge
• Lars H. Gulbrandsen and Graeme Auld, 2019 “Navigating Contested Accountability Logics in Nonstate Certification for Fisheries Sustainability” in T. Kramarz and S. Park (eds.) The Paradox of Accountability in Global Environmental Governance, MIT Press: Cambridge, MA
• Graeme Auld and Stefan Renckens, 2019 “Micro-level interactions in the compliance processes of transnational private governance: The market for Marine Stewardship Council auditors and assessors” in S. Wood et al. (eds.) Transnational Business Governance Interactions, Edward Elgar: Cheltenham
• Graeme Auld, 2015 “Policy Making: Certification as Governance” in M. Dubnick and D. Bearfield (eds.) Encyclopedia of Public Administration and Public Policy, Taylor and Francis
• Benjamin Cashore, Graeme Auld and Stefan Renckens, 2014 “Labeling and Certification” in A. Orsini and J-F Morin (eds.) Essential Concepts in Global Environmental Governance, London: Routledge / Earthscan
• Graeme Auld and Lars Gulbrandsen, 2014 “Learning through Disclosure: The Evolving Importance of Transparency for Nonstate Certification” in A. Gupta and M. Mason (eds) Transparency in Global Environmental Governance: Critical Perspectives, pp 271-296. MIT Press: Cambridge
• Bradford S. Gentry, Thomas Sikor, Graeme Auld, Anthony J. Beddington, Tor A. Benjaminsen, Carol A. Hunsberger, Anne-Marie Izac, Matias E. Margulis, Tobias Plieninger, Heike Schroeder, and Caroline Upton, 2014 “Changes in Land Governance in an Urban Era” in K. Seto and A. Reenberg (eds) Rethinking Global Land Use in an Urban Era, pp 238-274. MIT Press: Cambridge
• Graeme Auld, 2014 “Private Market-Based Regulations: What they are, and what they may mean for land-use governance” in K. Seto and A. Reenberg (eds) Rethinking Global Land Use in an Urban Era, pp 217-238. MIT Press: Cambridge
• Graeme Auld, Benjamin Cashore, and Stefan Renckens, 2013 “Governance Components in Private Regulation: Implications for Legitimacy, Authority and Effectiveness” in N. Kanie, S. Andresen, and P.M. Haas (eds) Improving Global Environmental Governance: Best and Worst Practices for Improving International Climate Change Governance, pp 152-174. Routledge: London.
• Graeme Auld and Lars H. Gulbrandsen, 2013 “Private Regulation in Global Environmental Governance” in R. Falkner (ed) Handbook of Global Climate and Environmental Policy. Wiley-Blackwell Press: Oxford.
• Graeme Auld and Benjamin Cashore, 2013 “The Forest Stewardship Council” in P. Utting, D. Reed and A. M. Reed (eds) Business Regulation and Non-state Actors: Whose Standards? Whose Development? Routledge: London. (equal authors)
• Graeme Auld, 2013 “The Marine Stewardship Council” in P. Utting, D. Reed and A. M. Reed (eds) Business Regulation and Non-state Actors: Whose Standards? Whose Development? Routledge: London.
• Benjamin Cashore, Graeme Auld, and Stefan Renckens, 2011 “The Impact of Private, Industry, and Transnational Civil Society Regulation and Their Interaction with Official Regulation” in C. Parker and V. Nielsen (eds) Explaining Regulatory Compliance: Business Responses to Regulation, Edward Elgar: Cheltenham.
• Graeme Auld, 2011 “Certification as Governance: Current Impact and Future Prospects,” in M. Warrier (ed) The Politics of Fair Trade, Routledge: London.
• Graeme Auld, Cristina Balboa, Steven Bernstein, and Benjamin Cashore, 2009 “The Emergence of Non-State Market Driven (NSMD) Global Environmental Governance: A Cross Sectoral Assessment,” in M. Delmas and O. Young (eds) Governance for the Environment: New Perspectives, Cambridge University Press: Cambridge. (equal authors)
• Benjamin Cashore, Graeme Auld, Deanna Newsom, and Elisabeth Egan, 2009 “The Emergence of Non-State Environmental Governance in European and North American Forest Sectors,” in M. Schreurs, H. Selin, and S. VanDeveer (eds) Transatlantic Environment and Energy Politics: Comparative and International Perspectives, Ashgate: Aldershot. (equal authors)
• Benjamin Cashore, Graeme Auld, Jamie Lawson, and Deanna Newsom, 2008 “The Post Staples Economy: The Impact of Forest Certification as a Non-State Market Driven Governance System,” in M. Howlett and K. Brownsey, (eds) Canadian Staples in Transition: The Past, Present, and Future of Canada’s Resource Economy, Emond Montgomery Publications: Toronto.
• Benjamin Cashore, Graeme Auld, and Deanna Newsom, 2004 “Legitimizing Political Consumption: The Case of Forest Certification in North America and Europe,” p. 181-199, in M. Micheletti, A Føllesdal and D. Stolle, (eds.) Politics, Products and Markets: Exploring Political Consumerism Past and Present, Transaction Press: New Brunswick. (equal authors)
• Graeme Auld, Benjamin Cashore, and Deanna Newsom, 2003 “Perspectives on Forest Certification: A Survey Examining Differences Among the US Forest Sectors’ Views of their Forest Certification Alternatives,” p. 271-282, in L. Teeter, B. Cashore and D. Zhang, (eds) Forest Policy for Private Forestry, CABI Publishing: Wallingford and New York.
• Deanna Newsom, Benjamin Cashore, Graeme Auld, and Jim Granskog, 2003 “Forest Certification in the Heart of Dixie: A Survey of Alabama Landowners,” p. 291-300, in L. Teeter, B. Cashore and D. Zhang, (eds) Forest Policy for Private Forestry, CABI Publishing: Wallingford and New York.

• CANADALAND #729 The Most Monotonous Emergency, Ever (CANADALAND Podcast, Nov 2021)
• Carleton Research Projects Receive $578,000 from CFI to Tackle Challenges Facing all Canadians (Carleton Newsroom, Aug 2021)
• Seeing Is Believing: Building Customer Trust with Transparency (Sap Insights, July 2021)
• Incoming Carleton Postdoc Wins Prestigious Liber Ero Fellowship (CU Graduate Student News, Feb 2021)
• Why eco-labelling is so difficult during the COVID-19 pandemic (The Conversation, Dec 2020)
• Robert Slater Receives CSPC Exceptional Contribution to Science Policy Award (FPA News, Nov 2020)
• Graeme Auld Named FPA Research Excellence Chair (FPA News, July 2018)
• SPPA Doctoral Student Chosen as 2018 Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Scholar (FPA News, June 2018)
• An International Graduate Student Reflects on Her Time at Carleton (FPA News, Feb 2018)
• Faculty of Public Affairs Names First Research Excellence Chair (FPA News, Feb 2018)
• Forests Carbon Projects Can Narrow Emissions Gap, But Not All Are Created Equal (Ecosystem Marketplace, Nov 2017)
• Environmental Policy Researcher Named to Royal Society (FPA News, Sep 2017)
• Climate Policy Champions (FPA News, Feb 2017)
• Ottawa Zibi development stirs controversy over green labels, First Nations rights (National Observer, Sep 2016)
• Renowned Journals Set Up Shop at School of Public Policy and Administration (FPA News, June 2016)
• From Fair Trade to Fresh Fish: The Eco-label Phenomenon (FPA News, Nov 2014)