On November 23-24, 2023, the University of Oslo (UiO) Faculty of Law hosted an international conference on the Legal Aspects of Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage (CCUS) and Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR). The event brought together leading experts, policymakers, academics, and industry representatives to discuss the evolving regulatory landscape and legal challenges of industrial carbon management.
The conference, organized by the Department of Energy and Resources Law at UiO, featured discussions on the European and national law frameworks for CCUS, legal regimes for CO2 transport and storage, economic incentives, and governance of CCUS value chains.
Panel on CCUS Value Chains and Carbon Neutrality
A highlight of the event was the session on legal perspectives on the CCUS value chain, where Ms. Elena Athwal (Harvard Law School, Cambridge, MA) delivered a presentation titled “Advancing Carbon Neutrality: Insights into the CCUS Value Chain in the United States.”
In her presentation, Ms. Athwal examined the evolving regulatory landscape governing CCUS in the U.S., highlighting policy developments, corporate strategies, and investment frameworks that shape the industry. She discussed the challenges of scaling CCUS technologies, legal liability issues, and transboundary carbon transport regulations, emphasizing the importance of clear legal frameworks to drive investment in carbon capture and storage projects.
The session was chaired by Andreas Pihlstrøm, lawyer, Norwegian Confederation of Business (NHO).
Conference Highlights and Key Discussions
The conference was chaired by Professor Catherine Banet (UiO) and featured keynote addresses from Alexander Engh, Deputy Director General at the Norwegian Ministry of Petroleum and Energy, and H.E. Nicolas de La Grandville, EU Ambassador to Norway, who addressed the EU’s evolving policy and legislative initiatives on CCUS and CDR.
The two-day event featured contributions from experts across the public and private sectors, covering topics such as:
✅ Legal and policy frameworks for CO2 storage and transport
✅ Economic incentives for CCUS projects
✅ Regulatory challenges in cross-border carbon transport
✅ International legal frameworks for carbon removal (CDR)
The discussions underscored the need for international cooperation and harmonized legal frameworks to support the growth of CCUS technologies and achieve global carbon neutrality goals.
With its diverse range of legal, academic, and industry insights, the University of Oslo’s CCUS and CDR Conferenceserved as a crucial platform for shaping the future of carbon management law and policy worldwide.
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