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Annual Conference on The Scales of Governance of the Energy Transition 

May 13, 2022, 10:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m. CET. 

Under the scientific direction of Bernadette Le Baut-Ferrarese, Professor of Law, Université Jean Moulin Lyon 3, and Aubin Nzaou-Kongo, Ph.D., Université Jean Moulin Lyon 3, in partnership with the Environment, Energy and Natural Resources (EENR) Center of the University of Houston Law Center, with the participation of Dean Leonard M. Baynes, Dean and Professor of Law, University of Houston Law Center, and Victor B. Flatt, Dwight Olds Chair in Law; Faculty Director EENR Center, University of Houston Law Center. 

Abstract

The energy and climate transition is one of the major challenges of our time. The Supreme Court of Ireland recently used identical language in opening a decision in which it struck down a government climate policy as unrealistic and unclear about the national transition target. Such a transition, in addition to the international, regional or national legal frameworks in place, requires the active involvement of a variety of actors. It is generally said that they participate in its governance. The international colloquium organized by the European and Comparative International Law Team (EDIEC) and the Centre for European Studies (CEE) of the Université Jean Moulin Lyon 3, on May 13, 2022, under the scientific direction of Professor Bernadette Le Baut-Ferrarese and Dr. Aubin Nzaou-Kongo, is in line with scientific efforts to clarify the scales of governance that can be observed in this regard. On the occasion of this symposium, various speakers, including academics, professionals, members of public administrations or non-state actors will present the respective roles of actors in the governance and implementation of the energy transition. This symposium concludes the research and knowledge dissemination work carried out within the framework of a research project (TGL Project) funded by the European Commission. The ambition of the annual conference is to cross the views of the doctrine and practitioners in order to draw up a complete panorama of the actors and to examine their respective normative and organic contributions, including policy and practice. The reading of these contributions will allow us to understand the real dynamics that are emerging around the governance of the energy and climate transition. It is true that the role of the State remains singularly important, because of its classic attributes of sovereignty and its place in the international order, but it is also true that this role is very limited today. Indeed, it appears that within the state order, a diversity of actors intervene, either to support, to compete with, or to surpass state action. These actors include sub-state and non-state actors. Therefore, the chances of success of the energy and climate transition inevitably lie in the combined action of these actors, which is the central object of our reflections on the occasion of May 13, 2022. 

Contact: anzaouko@central.uh.edu