B6097 - Sem.International Energy Law and the Green Transition

Learning outcomes

International Energy Law and the Green Transition", 2 credits, second semester a.y. 2024/2025 Fair access to energy, energy security and sustainability are among the main aspects of the UN 2030 Agenda, which dedicated an ad hoc goal to energy (SDG 7, Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all). The purpose of the seminar is to introduce the international legal framework governing fossil fuels and renewable energy sources, also considering international energy litigation and the discipline and voluntary codes on corporate governance of energy companies. Due attention will also be devoted to the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change and its subsequent developments, with the analysis of the green transition processes of the major actors, set up to achieve the sustainability targets

Course contents

The seminar will introduce the students to the international customary and treaty law governing energy. As a case study for the green transition, the EU legal framework will be considered, assessing its coherence with international trade law, international investment law, and international climate law. Specific attention will be devoted to the 2015 Paris Agreement and climate litigation, assessing the rulings and opinions of the International Tribunals, the European Court of Human Rights, and the most significative developments in the case law of the national legal systems.

The special seminar "International Energy Law and the Green Transition" is co-funded by the European Union. It is one of the three courses of the Jean Monnet Chair "SustainEUorPlanet - The EU as a Global Actor in the International Law for the Sustainable Development of the Planet – Advancing Fairness, Expanding Accountability and Promoting Security". SustainEUorPlanet is the development of the Re-Globe Jean Monnet Module (2022-2025).

The SustainEUorPlanet Jean Monnet ChairvProject offers an interdisciplinary and critical analysis of international policies and legal frameworks of the European Union aimed at economic and social equity, respect for the environment, access to clean energy and essential goods, and the search for security to overcome geopolitical tensions and asymmetries. SustainEUorPlanet has a dual purpose. On the one hand, it offers a set of activities that provide for the training of an excellent management and academic class, involving EU, national and international officials, politicians, NGOs, companies and public administrations. On the other hand, the Jean Monnet Chair project studies and analyses the role of the EU as a global player in constantly promoting a sustainability agenda for trade, environment, energy and climate policies, highlighting the importance of the responsibility of economic actors and the relevance that EU citizens can have in shaping and enforcing the EU's external instruments through participation and transparency. Equal attention is paid to security policy in the context of the global economy (see the project's webpage [https://site.unibo.it/sustaineuorplanet/en] and LinkedIn account [https://www.linkedin.com/company/sustaineuorplanet/about/?viewAsMember=true] ).

Readings/Bibliography

For students attending the seminar, the reading materials will be provided during the lectures. THe uploading of the materials and the power point presentations used during the lectures will be promptly uploaded on the Virtuale platform.

Students not attending the lectures will be required to read the following bibliography:

Jorge Vinuales, The International Law of Energy, Cambridge, 2022, pp. 1-41

Anna-Alexandra Marhold, Energy in International Trade Law (CUP 2021), 66–80

Elena Cima, ‘Promoting Renewable Energy Through FTAs? The Legal Implications of a New Generation of Trade Agreements’ (2018) 52 Journal of World Investment and Trade 663

Alice Pirlot, ‘Carbon Border Adjustment Measures: A Straightforward Multi-Purpose Climate Change Instrument?’ (2022) 34 Journal of Environmental Law 25.

Council Conclusions on EU Green Diplomacy EU diplomacy promoting the just and inclusive green transition and supporting the implementation of global commitments. Brussels, 18 March 2024 (OR. en) 7865/24.

Teaching methods

The lectures of the seminar will be interactive and analise, together with the students, the main principle and treaties governing energy and the green transition in International Law and according to the EU legal framework.  

Assessment methods

During the lectures, multiple choice test will be distributed to the students for their self evaluation. The exam will be an interview with three questions on the content of the seminar. The interview will last approximately 15 minutes. 

Teaching tools

Materials indicated during the lectures, power point presentations, videos.

Links to further information

https://site.unibo.it/sustaineuorplanet/en

Office hours

See the website of Elisa Baroncini