Principles of International Energy Transition Law
Frédéric G Sourgens, Leonardo Sempértegui
Abstract
Abstract Energy transition is a complex global problem. Complicating energy transition governance and energy transition policies cut across multiple legal silos (human rights law, environmental law, international economic law, finance law, energy law, law of the sea, transnational commercial law, etc.). As of yet, there is no succinct treatment of the legal principles that govern energy transition as a phenomenon seen as a whole (rather than through the fragmented lens of different legal discourses). This book fills this gap and provides a single resource that brings all these different legal regimes under one roof. It outlines the interactions between them and gives direction on how they can be reconciled. The book introduces the energy transition problem by situating the climate emergency in its broader energy context, showing how global energy value chains are deeply enmeshed in and drive global economic and human development. Energy transition is faced with a trilemma between energy equity to provide access to energy needed to fuel human development around the world, energy security to provide for resilient and reliable energy systems, and environmental sustainability. In response to this, the book develops thirty-two international legal principles governing different aspects of the trilemma. It then uses a commons governance perspective, to assist in a holistic approach to balancing the different limbs of the trilemma—and the different legal principles—against each other. Its integrated and solution-oriented approach makes the book an important addition for the field. Special sections summarize the most important concepts and ideas for easy reference, making the title particularly accessible for students and policy-makers as well as law practitioners.