LAW 865 - International Energy Law & Policy

College of Law
3 credit(s) Irregularly

This course serves an introduction to elements of the international legal regime govern the exploration, extraction, exploitation, regulation and arbitration of natural resources in the developing world. Students will be required to submit a seminar term paper that would address on one of the aforementioned themes. The course begins with an introduction to public international law and principles applicable to energy and natural resource activities, including sovereignty over natural resources and sustainable development. Other resources ¿ genetic resources, water, wood, fish and mammals are also briefly examined. The second section of the course focuses on international legal regulations of specific energy sector: oil and gas, nuclear, and renewable sectors. The unique features of the legal regimes that have merged is that they must address and support the trans-boundary aspect of natural resources, as seen with the construction of oil and gas pipelines. The third section examines question of rights and the environment exploring issues relating to duty of care in relation to the extraction of resources. This part includes case study of trans-boundary pipelines development to illustrate, inter alia, the complex interplay of human rights, environment and other factors, and to identify the actors involved (including international financial institutions such as the World Bank) and the remedies routes available to affected individuals and groups. This links to Part IV, the accountability of non-state actors ¿ including multinational enterprises ¿ and institutions for environmental, human rights, and other consequences of their energy and natural resources activities. Examination of emerging best practice in mineral policy. Interfuse within the course is a policy-based review of the security aspect of natural resources, as these are susceptible piracy, hostage-taking and armed incursions, to security of supply in times of international emergency.