Elena Cima - Promoting Renewables through Free Trade Agreements? An Assessment of the Relevant Provisions

Abstract

Research Associate

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glawcal comments

articles

Italy in The Renewable Energy Law Review

Assessing the value of distributed solar energy generation

Natural disasters and the United States’ electricity grid: The role of FEMA and the value of micro-grids

Community shared solar in Virginia: Political and institutional barriers and possibilities

Using proprietary databases to overcome data suppression in industry cluster analysis

Analyzing the costs and benefits of distributed solar energy in Virginia (USA): A case study of collaborative energy planning

Shale industry’s economic contribution in Ohio, USA: Implications for future activity in the state

The solar and wind economy in Ohio: Industry analysis and policy implications

Deploying solar energy with community choice aggregation: A carbon fee model

The economic, fiscal, and workforce impacts of coal-fired power plant closures in Appalachian Ohio

Non-utility photovoltaic deployment: Evaluation of U.S. state-level policy drivers

Punctuating the equilibrium: A lens to understand energy and environmental policy changes

The economic contribution of logging, forestry, pulp & paper mills, and paper products: A 50-state analysis

Perspectives on community solar policy adoption across the United States

Governing the Transboundary Risks of Offshore Methane Hydrate Exploration in the Seabed and Ocean Floor—an Analysis on International Provisions and Chinese Law

China’s Energy Policies and Strategies for Climate Change and Energy Security

Competition Law and Trade in Energy vs. Sustainable Development: A Clash of Individualism and Cooperative Partnerships?

EU Energy Cooperation and Natural Gas in the Levant Basin: Assessing the Role of the Mediterranean Energy Regulators' Association

The Energy Charter Treaty: Renewable Energy Disputes in Light of the Charanne Case

The Role of Gas Storage in European and National Energy Policy: Security of Gas Supply

Our events

In/Ex-Clusiveness in the Energy Transition and Climate Action

2nd Energy Transition Colloquium

Call for Papers: In/ex-clusiveness in the Energy Transition and Climate Action

Call For Papers: 2nd Energy Transition Colloquium

Strategies to Balance Energy Security, Business, Trade and Sustainable Development: Selected Case Studies

REASSESSING THE TRUTH: THE ROLE OF SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL PROGRESS, THE BUSINESS SECTOR, THE SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IN THE ENERGY TRANSITION

Call for Papers: REASSESSING THE TRUTH: THE ROLE OF SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL PROGRESS, THE BUSINESS SECTOR, THE SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IN THE ENERGY TRANSITION

Call for Papers: Energy and Climate Policy of the Juncker Commission: 4 Years of the Energy Union

Hydraulic Fracturing: From the United States' Experience to the Legal Framework in the European Union and the Member States

The Impact of the Ukraine Crisis on the Investment Protection of Energy Projects in Crimea

Our concerns

The growth in green energy investments worldwide is an important reality and rising trends are to be expected in the future. When designing the proper policy agenda for renewable energy investments, we must take into consideration the legal, regulatory and political frameworks in both developing and developed countries. gLAWcal aims at analyzing national approaches on the matter, combining scientific, social and economic considerations. At the same time, it wishes to develop partnerships among European and non-European institutions, so as to deliver an integrated approach on sustainable energy investments, combining global and local perspectives.

The need to prevent the abuse of intellectual property rights by right holders or the resort to practices which unreasonably restrain trade or adversely affect the international transfer of technology are topical issues that affects international relations. It is crucial for developing countries to achieve a substantive degree of IPR protection, not only for the promotion of creativity and innovation, but also for the maximization of technology transfer from developed countries. gLAWcal examines IPR regimes and their impact on competition with the objective of providing a better understanding of the competition-dimension of IP rights. Intellectual property rights are also extremely crucial to sustainable development in manifold ways, from the protection of traditional knowledge and cultural products, to access to essential medicines. Our organization focuses on the policy frameworks and institutions shaping debate and policy development in this sector.

In the last fifteen years, all around the world there has been a tendency to put much hope in the rise of civil society, its emergence being welcomed as a sign of progress towards a more democratic system. Many places in the world are today laboratories for change thanks to bottom-up movements supported by civil society organizations. By looking at contentious politics and how they converge and interact with institutional politics, we can better understand what directions a country’s political system and its governance is taking. gLAWcal supports collective forms of actions aimed at the creation of better societies, on many social issues, and in various geographical areas.

Improvements in people’s economic wellbeing have increased citizen demands for a cleaner environment. As societies undergo the transition to industrial development and modernity, their citizens begin to concern themselves with needs and wants beyond the material, including the protection of the environment. However, growing levels of environmental consciousness and awareness are often not matched by proper environmental legislation enforcement at the local level. gLAWcal looks at environmental rights developments in developing countries, and aims at delivering policy advices and capacity building support in areas where law implementation is lacking. With this purpose, our organization seeks to improve environmental protection not only for the benefit of the populations directly affected, but also for the sake of the entire planet.

Globalization, and the consequent international exchange of goods, services, cultures, ideas, has brought increased wealth for many on the one hand, while exerting pressure on core societal values both in developed and developing countries on the other hand. Public opinion and policy makers have warned against the threat posed by international trade and liberalization to policies and measures meant to protect the so-called non-trade concerns (NTC), such as environmental protection, sustainable development, good governance, cultural rights, labour rights, public health, social welfare, national security, food safety, access to knowledge, consumer interests and animal welfare.When trying to protect these issues, developed countries have put into place trade measures that have encountered resistance or dissent in developing countries, being perceived as protectionist actions or as an attempt by the importing countries to impose their social, ethical and cultural values on exporting countries.The challenge of integrating Non-Trade Concerns embodies the willingness to overcome national egoisms and embrace universally a number of fundamental values, creating an ethical and juridical platform to win over cultural differences and issues of national sovereignty. gLAWcal’s research aims at identifying ways to protect NTC within international economic law. By shedding new light on developing countries’ trends towards inclusion of NTC in the domestic and international arena, gLAWcal provides a comprehensive perspective on law enforcement, creating a bridge between the international and the domestic realities.