2nd International Conference «The Crossroad Of International Environmental Law»

(Below you will find the english version of this content)

La Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC) y los grupos de interés en derecho internacional del medio ambiente y en Estado de derecho europeo e internacional de la European Society of International Law (ESIL) organizan la 2nd International Conference. The Crossroad Of International Environmental Law, «La encrucijada del derecho internacional del medio ambiente: paradojas de la transición energética y desigualdades globales». La conferencia tendrá lugar en Barcelona los días 3 y 4 de septiembre de 2025 y su objetivo es profundizar en la compleja intersección entre la transición energética, el derecho ambiental y los derechos humanos.

Introducción

La transición energética es una necesidad urgente ante la crisis climática y ambiental actual. El aumento de las temperaturas globales, impulsado por la explotación de combustibles fósiles, está generando consecuencias devastadoras, desde eventos climáticos extremos hasta el aumento del nivel del mar y la alteración del suministro de alimentos y agua. Estas crisis afectan desproporcionadamente a las poblaciones más vulnerables, especialmente en el Sur Global. Para mitigar los efectos del cambio climático, es fundamental reducir las emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero y adoptar fuentes de energía renovable que garanticen un futuro sostenible.

Sin embargo, esta transición no está exenta de desafíos. La creciente demanda de minerales clave para las tecnologías renovables, como el litio, el cobalto y el cobre, está generando conflictos sociales y ambientales. A pesar de su propósito sostenible, muchos proyectos de energía renovable han reproducido las dinámicas extractivistas y neocoloniales del modelo basado en combustibles fósiles, esto es, la explotación de recursos naturales sin una adecuada consideración por los derechos humanos y la justicia social. La falta de regulaciones sólidas y evaluaciones socioambientales rigurosas ha permitido que los intereses comerciales prevalezcan sobre el bienestar de comunidades locales y ecosistemas frágiles.

En esta conferencia internacional abordaremos las contradicciones y los desafíos de la transición global hacia las energías renovables, con especial atención a sus impactos ambientales, sociales y económicos en el Sur Global.

Ponentes confirmados

• Xavier Fernández Pons. Profesor Titular de Derecho Internacional Público, Universitat de Barcelona, España.
• Sandra Cassotta. Profesora Titular de Derecho Internacional, Ambiental y Energético, Universidad de Aaalborg, Dinamarca.
• Paolo Farah. Catedrático de Administración Pública y Políticas Públicas, Universidad de Virginia Occidental, EE.UU.

Introduction

The need for an energy transition has never been more urgent than in the context of the ongoing climate and environmental crises. As global temperatures continue to rise, driven by the over-exploitation of fossil fuels, the consequences of inaction are becoming increasingly devastating. Climate change is not only a threat to natural ecosystems but also to human life, as extreme weather events, rising sea levels, and disruptions to food and water supplies disproportionately affect vulnerable populations, particularly in the Global South. The shift towards renewable energy is critical to mitigating the worst effects of climate change, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come.

However, this transition must be carefully managed to prevent the perpetuation of existing inequalities and ensure that it does not come at the cost of human rights, social justice, or environmental degradation in the regions already most affected by industrial exploitation and resource extraction.

The energy transition towards renewable energy sources, primarily driven by the Global North, has led to an increase in conflicts in the Global South, particularly due to the negative impacts on human rights and the environment stemming from the planning and implementation of renewable energy projects. Additionally, the extraction of essential minerals for renewable energy production, such as lithium, cobalt, and copper, is often linked to social and environmental conflicts in the Global South. These activities, both in renewable energy projects and mineral extraction, reflect the continuation of the extractivist logic characteristic of fossil fuel-based models, reproducing neocolonial dynamics of wealth accumulation.

In this context, the energy transition raises complex challenges, particularly when considering its environmental and social impacts. While the transition to renewable energy is necessary, it should not ignore the adverse effects it can have on human rights and the environment, especially in the Global South. The production and extraction of raw materials for renewable energy technologies – such as cobalt, lithium, and other minerals – often lead to severe social and environmental consequences. These impacts include violations of workers’ rights, displacement of local communities, destruction of ecosystems, and the exacerbation of existing socio-economic inequalities. Moreover, these environmental and social issues are frequently exacerbated by the failure of States to adequately incorporate human rights and environmental considerations into their policies, allowing business interests to take precedence over the welfare of affected communities.

Despite the growing recognition of these issues, many State policies fail to adequately address or prioritize the social and environmental impacts of renewable energy projects and mineral extraction. This oversight reflects a broader tendency for governments to prioritize economic growth and energy independence over the human rights and environmental consequences of their policies. The lack of comprehensive environmental and social assessments, coupled with weak regulatory frameworks, has allowed business actors to exploit natural resources without due consideration for the communities affected. In many instances, the State’s role in facilitating or even promoting such activities, without enforcing robust human rights and environmental standards, exacerbates the negative consequences faced by vulnerable populations.

In this international conference we will face the contradictions and challenges of the global transition towards renewable energies, with special attention to its environmental, social and economic impacts in the Global South.

Confirmed speakers

Xavier Fernández Pons. Associate Professor of Public International Law, University of Barcelona, ​​Spain.
Sandra Cassotta. Associate Professor of International, Environmental and Energy Law, University of Aaalborg, Denmark.
Paolo Farah. Full Professor of Public Administration and Public Policies, University of West Virginia, EE.