Harvard University recently hosted the North American launch of Net Zero and Natural Resources Law: Sovereignty, Security, and Solidarity in the Clean Energy Transition (Oxford University Press), a landmark publication edited by Professors Damilola S. Olawuyi (SAN), José Juan González Márquez, Hanri Mostert, Milton Fernando Montoya, and Catherine Banet.
Bringing together legal scholars, practitioners, and students, the event explored the legal, policy, and governance challenges of the clean energy transition and the implications of natural resource management in a net-zero era. Discussions focused on resource security, environmental justice, and the risks of incoherent transition policies, including potential disputes, human rights concerns, and geopolitical conflicts over critical minerals.
Keynote Address
The event featured a keynote address by Ms. Luigia Ingianni, Commissioner of the Employment Standards Office (ESO) at the Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) Authority. She underscored the importance of regulatory frameworks, labor protections, and corporate responsibility in ensuring a just and equitable energy transition.
Panel Discussions
The discussions were moderated by Dr. Damilola S. Olawuyi, SAN, FCIArb, Professor and UNESCO Chair on Environmental Law & Sustainable Development at Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar. Dr. Olawuyi guided the dialogue, emphasizing the complex legal frameworks governing natural resource extraction, clean energy investments, and environmental accountability in a rapidly evolving geopolitical landscape.
Among the distinguished speakers, Ms. Elena Athwal (Harvard Law School, Cambridge, MA) presented on Net Zero, Human Rights & ESG Risk Management in Natural Resource Investments, highlighting the social and legal risks associated with energy transition projects, including human rights concerns, environmental accountability, and corporate responsibility.
Other speakers included:
- Ms. Mehrnoosh Aryanpour, CEO, Green Swan Capital – Sources & Principles of Natural Resources Law in a Net Zero Era
- Dr. Qaraman Hasan, Postdoctoral Fellow, Johns Hopkins SAIS – Natural Resources Contracts & Net Zero
- Dr. Nadia B. Ahmad, Associate Professor, Barry University School of Law – Net Zero & Environmental Impact Assessments in the U.S.
- Dr. José Juan González Márquez, Head of Economic Law & Sustainability Research Program, Metropolitan Autonomous University – Regional Free Trade Agreements & the Net Zero Transition
- Dr. Milton Fernando Montoya Pardo, Director, Mining and Energy Law Institute, Universidad Externado de Colombia – Net Zero & the Future of Natural Resources Law
Looking Ahead
The book launch underscored the critical role of legal frameworks in ensuring a just and sustainable clean energy transition, balancing economic development, environmental protection, and social equity in natural resource governance.
This event was part of a series of global engagements aimed at fostering academic and professional discussions on the legal complexities of achieving net-zero goals while maintaining resource sovereignty and economic stability.
Link to more information: https://www.linkedin.com/events/netzero-naturalresourceslaw-sov7194271942089097216/comments