Energy Security and Environmental Governance 2015

The increase in global energy demand, and the evolving politico-socio-economic contexts of Arctic countries are all factors (re) stimulating economic development in the energy sector: hydrocarbons resources (oil and gas), but also rare earth elements or uranium. Resource extraction is impacting the natural environment and the small-scale societies of the Arctic. National and regional governments therefore face crucial governance issues.

The sessions will in priority address the following questions:

• What is the rationale for the development of resource extraction in the various Arctic regions/states? 
• How to compare the national environmental regulations in the Arctic related to energy resources extraction?
• How do national energy strategies accommodate regional and local needs?
• Which actors are involved in the setting of environmental standards and what are their relative powers?
• How does the EU contribute to the development of standards related to environmental protection?
• To what extent does international legal framework impact national regulations applicable in the Arctic? Conversely, to what extent local, regional and national regulations have an impact on international law?
• How to assess the evolution of public policies in the use of local renewable energy in Arctic communities?

Keynote speaker: Dr. Petra Dolata, Associate Professor at the University of Calgary, will be keynote speaker at this event. Other presenters with expertise on the Artic region from both Aarhus University and international institutions will contribute to the interdisciplinary approach in the Artic from political science, international relations, law and economics. 

Organized by Ellen Margrethe Basse (EllenMB@law.au.dk) and Cécile Pelaudeix (cepe@cas.au.dk) on behalf of Arctic Research Centre and INTRAlaw, Aarhus University.

3 sessions are planned for the Matchpoint seminar on November 13^th, 2015.

1. Session Framing the issues of energy security, society and the environment

2. Session Economic and socio-economic dimensions at stake

3. Session Challenges and perspectives of interaction between law and policy