Download 10/1/2012: New study on climate change negotiations

NEWS AND EVENTS 2012
DECEMBER
12/13/2012: New climate finance research from UEF
A book chapter "The New Framework for Climate Finance Under the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change: A Breakthrough or an Empty Promise?" has been
published on the Social Science Research Network as part of the UEF Legal Studies Research
Papers. The chapter is co-authored by Dr Yulia Yamineva and Dr Kati Kulovesi and will appear
in the book "Climate Change and the Law," edited by Erkki J. Hollo, Kati Kulovesi and Michael
Mehling and to be published by Springer in late 2012. In the chapter, Yamineva and Kulovesi
show that the climate finance arrangements under the UN Climate Change Convention have been
fragmented and insufficient to meet the growing financing needs of developing countries for
adaptation and mitigation. The authors then describe and analyze the emerging framework for
climate finance as a result of the Copenhagen Accord of 2009 and the decisions made by Parties
to the Convention in Cancun in 2010 and Durban in 2011. Yamineva and Kulovesi argue that the
establishment of the Green Climate Fund constitutes an important milestone and progress has
also been made in other respects. However, long-standing divides and mistrust between
developed and developing countries have shaped the negotiations on climate finance and
continue to be reflected in their outcomes (and non-outcomes). This, together with the lack of
clarity over long-term sources of finance, casts shadows over the future effectiveness of the new
framework.
The
chapter
is
available
for
download
at:
http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2159195.
12/13/2012: UEF represented at the COOL project
Prof Tuomas Kuokkanen and Dr Yulia Yamineva participated in the seminar on the progress of
the project "Aerosol intervention technologies to cool the climate: costs, benefits, side effects,
and governance," also known as the COOL project. The event took place on 12 December at the
Finnish Meteorological Institute in Helsinki and included presentations mainly on the physical
science basis of geoengineering. Dr Yamineva presented on her work on the governance of
science assessments in the context of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and Prof
Kuokkanen gave an overview international governance and legal issues related to
geoengineering.
12/12/2012: UEF represented at AIPN NOC
Professor Kim Talus attended the AIPN NOC – Government Entity conference and workshop in
London 4-6 December. The focus of the conference was on upstream oil and gas operations and
national oil companies and their relations with international oil companies. Kim has written
widely on this topic.
12/4/2012: UEF represented at Doha
Dr Yulia Yamineva attends the UN climate change negotiations in Doha,
Qatar. She'll take part at the meetings of the Doha Business Day on 3
December
to
provide
a
summary
of
discussions
for
the
International
Institute for Sustainable Development. The Doha Global Business Day is
jointly
organized
by
the
World
Business
Council
for
Sustainable
Development and the International Chamber of Commerce and takes place
in
parallel
to
the main intergovernmental
negotiations.
The event
will
bring
together
policy-makers,
business
representatives
and
experts
to
address
the
private
sector
perspective
of
diversifying
the
energy
mix
by 2050 in the framework of global green growth and opportunities for
green growth in the Middle East. The final report will be available at
http://www.iisd.ca/climate/cop18/bd/
Dr Yamineva will also attend the negotiations
Kyoto Protocol, a new legal agreement, and
decisions under the Convention on Climate Change.
on the future of the
implementation of earlier
12/3/2012: New Research from UEF
A new book chapter "Climate Law and Policy in Russia: A Peasant Needs Thunder to Cross
Himself and Wonder" by Dr Yulia Yamineva has been published on the Social Science Research
Network as part of the UEF Legal Studies Research Papers. The chapter will appear in the book
"Climate Change and the Law," edited by Erkki J. Hollo, Kati Kulovesi and Michael Mehling
and to be published by Springer in late 2012. In this work, Dr Yamineva outlines the main
domestic policy and legislative developments on climate change issues to date in Russia. She
argues that the Climate Doctrine adopted in 2009 during the presidential term of Dmitry
Medvedev who promoted a modernisation agenda, laid foundations for a comprehensive climate
policy framework but it lacks sufficient institutional and budget support. At the same time,
significant GHG emission reductions can be delivered in Russia through the implementation of
the recently adopted energy efficiency and energy conservation policies and related legislation.
Adaptation policies should also be urgently formulated, as according to the Russian Federal
Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring, climate change, alongside some
benefits, will bring more droughts, floods and other extreme events as well as negative
consequences for infrastructure, agriculture
The chapter is available for download at
and
other
sectors
of
the
economy.
http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2159197
NOVEMBER
11/29/2012: UEF representative at Doha negotiations
Dr Kati Kulovesi attends the final week of UN climate change negotiations in Doha, Qatar.
Acting as leader of the Earth Negotiations Bulletin reporting team, she will prepare daily reports
from the negotiations as well as a comprehensive summay and analysis of the outcomes,
scheduled for publication by the International Institute for Sustainable Development by 12
December 2012 at: www.iisd.ca.
The 2012 UN Climate Change Conference in Doha will take place from 27 November to 7
December 2012. It includes the 18th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC
(COP 18) and the 8th session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the
Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP 8). CMP 8 is expected to adopt amendments to the Kyoto
Protocol for the second commitment period commencing on 1 Jan. 2013. The COP will consider
the operationalization of the various new institutions, including the Green Climate Fund, Climate
Technology Centre and Network and the Adaptation Committee. It will also continue
negotiations for a new legal instrument that will apply to all countries and should be ready for
adoption in 2015.
11/29/2012: Lectures on UN Climate Change Regime
Yulia Yamineva, postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Law, gave a presentation titled
"The UN Climate Change Regime: Dead or Alive? Implications for a Global Energy Agenda" on
16 November at the European University in Saint-Petersburg, Russia, for international students
of the Master's programme "Energy politics in Eurasia." The presentation covered the main
developments in the UN climate change negotiations and how these affect the future of the
energy sector.
11/26/2012: New climate policy research from UEF
NewA new article by Dr Kati Kulovesi contributes to the timely debate on the respective roles of
multilateralism, minilateralism and unilateralism in global climate policy. The article appears in
the special issue of the Review of European Community and International Environmental Law,
dedicated to exploring ways to promote climate action outside the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change.
The article focuses on attempts to address greenhouse gas emissions from international aviation
and maritime transport sector outside the UNFCCCC. It analyses the respective roles and
regulatory attempts by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the
International Maritime Organization (IMO). Given the lack of multilateral agreement on how to
address rapidly growing greenhouse gas emissions from the aviation and maritime transport
sectors, Dr Kulovesi also discusses whether and how independent action - such as the EU's
legislation to include aviation emissions into its Emissions Trading Scheme - can contribute to
the internationally adopted objective of limiting global average temperature increase to two
degrees.
Dr Kulovesi concludes that "while continuing multilateral efforts under the UNFCCC, ICAO and
IMO in good faith is crucial, unilateral, bilateral and minilateral mitigation efforts should also be
explored and promoted where appropriate. For the most part, the possible transboundary legal
implications of such efforts will come in nonbinding forms as regulatory models and innovations
are disseminated through informal cooperation at various transnational settings. For those efforts
whose transboundary reach is based on binding legislation in one jurisdiction, attention should
turn to their compatibility with the relevant international legal rules and principles." Overall, she
argues for shifting the focus from the simplistic choice between multilateral action, unilateral
action or no action "towards exploring ways in which interaction between a plural mix of legal
regimes and jurisdictions in a global context can best serve the ultimate objective of the
UNFCCC to avoid dangerous anthropogenic climate change."
Kati Kulovesi, "Addressing Sectoral Emissions outside the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change: What Roles for Multilateralism, Minilateralism and
Unilaterlaism?" 21(3) Review of European Community and International Environmental Law
(2012), 193-203. Available for free download at:
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/reel.2012.21.issue-3/issuetoc
11/21/2012: New handbook on upstream petroleum now available for pre-order
Professor Kim Talus (UEF) and Dr Eduardo Pereira (Oxford Institute for Energy Studies) are
editing a comprehensive new study on upstream petroleum regimes internationally. This
practical handbook analyses the most relevant petroleum provinces. The book summarises the
upstream regulation and the key concerns in over 30 important and emerging oil and gas
jurisdictions. Issues featured include the key terms of the petroleum law, the types of legal
arrangement in place (ie, concession agreement, production sharing contract or service
agreement), the fiscal terms, how to qualify to acquire acreage, type of governing law, dispute
resolution mechanisms and governmental control. The book therefore represents a
comprehensive
worldwide
resource
for
upstream
investments.
Product
information
and
how
to
order:
http://www.globelawandbusiness.com/ULR/
11/21/2012: UEF researcher to participate in the European University Institute research
team
Dr Kati Kulovesi participates in the Transworld research project as an external member of the
European University Institute (EUI) research team. Transworld is a consortium of 13 academic
and research centers from the EU, the US and Turkey to research the evolution of the
transatlantic relationship and its role in shaping global governance architectures. Dr Kulovesi
will co-author a paper with Prof. Marise Cremona, President Ad Interim of the EUI, on the
evolution of EU competences in the field of external relations and its impact on environmental
governance policies. More information on the Transworld project is available at:
http://www.transworld-fp7.eu/?p=205
11/1/2012: UEF to participate in climate investment meeting
Yulia Yamineva, postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Law, attends the annual meetings
of Climate Investment Funds, taking place from 30 October to 7 November in Istanbul, Turkey.
The Climate Investment Funds, a partnership of five multilateral development banks, finance
projects on clean technology, strengthening climate resilience, forestry, and scaling up renewable
energy. Yulia will contribute to the daily summaries of the meetings with the International
Institute for Sustainable Development - Reporting Services. The reports will be available at
http://www.iisd.ca/climate/cif/pf2012/
OCTOBER
10/29/2012: New nuclear law and policy research from UEF
Professor Kim Talus (UEF) is participating in an international study on the impact of Fukushima
nuclear disaster on nuclear policies in various countries. Other participants include Professor P.
Birkinshaw (UK), M. Wärnsby and M. Edqvist (Sweden), Associate Professor A. Belyi (Russia).
Some of the country specific studies have now been published on OGEL (www.ogel.org). The
entire study will be available in book format in early 2013.
10/22/2012: The opening panel for the 2013 energy policy conference confirmed
University of Eastern Finland is hosting an international energy policy conference on 4-5 March
2013. The university is pleased to confirm the opening panel for the event:
•
Professor Jean-Michel Glachant, Director of the Florence School of Regulation and
Director
of
Loyola
de
Palacio
Energy
Policy
Programme
•
Professor Leigh Hancher, Professor European Law at the University of Tilburg and advisor
at
Allen
&
Overy
Amsterdam
•
Professor Catherine Mitchell, Professor of Energy Policy at Exeter University
•
Professor Jacint Jordana, professor of Political Science and Public Administration at the
Universitat
Pompeu
Fabra
The opening panel will discuss energy regulation from legal, economic and policy perspective.
10/16/2012: International conference presentation in US from Seita Romppainen (UEF)
M.Sc, LL.M (intl.env.law) Seita Romppanen from the UEF Department of Law presented a
paper on "Voluntary certification schemes for sustainable biofuels?" at the international
conference "Third Annual Colloquium on Environmental Scholarship", held at the Vermont Law
School, Vermont, USA on October 11 and 12, 2012. The conference was hosted by the Vermont
Law School's Environmental Law Center.
10/15/2012: New UEF Research on growing role of climate change in the EU external
relations
A new book chapter by Dr. Kati Kulovesi (Adjunct Professor in Climate Law at the UEF
Department of Law) analyses the growing role of climate change in the external relations of the
European Union. The chapter is published by the Cambridge University Press in a new collection
"The External Environmental Policy of the European Union: EU and International Law
Perspectives," edited by Dr. Elisa Morgera.
The chapter by Dr. Kulovesi, "Climate Change in the EU External Relations: Please Follow My
Example (or I Might Force You to), focuses on efforts by the EU provide global climate change
leadership at the UN climate change negotiations since the early 1990s, while also attempting
'lead by example' through internal legislation on climate change and renewable energy. The
chapter argues that frustrated by the limited success of its collaborative efforts, the EU is
increasingly taking measures that seek to force the direction of international climate law. Recent
examples include the inclusion of aviation emissions in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme and a
decision to apply stricter sustainability standards to carbon credits from the Kyoto Protocol's
Clean Development Mechanism than those agreed internationally under the UN.
The chapter concludes that: through its internal and external efforts, the EU has attempted to lead
the international battle against climate change as now called for by the Lisbon Treaty. While its
ideas
have
not
necessarily
dominated
the
construction
of
the
UN
climate regime, the EU has emerged as one of the regime's most consistent defenders. Over the
years, the Union has also provided leadership through its continuous political support,
intellectual
input
into
negotiations
and
internal
climate
policy examples.
However, many significant challenges lie ahead and the EU is likely to face a number of hurdles
before it can claim that the international community, including the Union itself, is on track to win
the fight against climate change.
10/15/2012: Professor Kim Talus to speak in Oslo
UEF Professor Kim Talus will discuss the ongoing European Commission driven Gazprom case
in light of recent developments in gas markets and competition law cases in an event in Oslo on
6 November 2012. The focus of the discussion for the event is the competition law case against
Gazprom and the traditional business models of the natural gas industry in the light of EU market
liberalization and competition law enforcement.
10/15/2012: International conference presentation
Dr. Kati Kulovesi from the UEF Department of Law presents a joint paper with Dr. Elisa
Morgera (School of Law, University of Edinburg) at the international conference "EU
Governance of Global Emergencies," held in Brussels, Belgium on 22-23 October 2012. The
topic of the presentation is "The Role of the EU in Promoting International Standars in the Area
of Climate Change." The conference is organised by Professors Inge Govaere (Ghent University)
and Sara Poli (University of Pisa) in association with Professor Sieglinde Gsthöl (College of
Europe) and sponsored by the Jean Monnet Lifelong Learning Programem of the European
Union.
10/1/2012: UEF takes part in the UNU-WIDER Climate Change and Development Policy
conference
Dr. Yulia Yamineva (Post-doctoral researcher at the UEF) participated at the international
conference "Climate Change and Development Policy" on 28-29 September 2012 in Helsinki as
a local observer. The conference was organised by UN University-WIDER and focused on how
available research on climate change can inform development policy. Conference webpage
http://staging.wider.unu.edu/climate2012/
10/1/2012: New study on climate change negotiations
A new article by Dr. Kati Kulovesi (Adjunct Professor in Climate Law at the UEF) analyses
developments at the Bonn Climate Change Conference in May 2012. It argues that the outcome
of the 2011 UN Climate Conference in Durban seems to have affected the dynamics of the UN
climate change negotiations and holds potential for far-reaching changes. Provided that all goes
well, the combination of new bodies and processes created in Cancun and Durban, the
forthcoming Fifth Assessment Report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and
the likely public pressure following its release could open a new chapter in the negotiations and
lead to a more effective multilateral response to the climate change challenge. Still, the
combination of a palpable rift within G-77/China and traditional divides between developed and
developing countries on issues such as finance and technology means that the road ahead is
likely to be a difficult one. Kati Kulovesi, "A New Chapter in the UN Climate Change
Negotiations? First Steps under the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action," Climate Law 3(2)
(2012), 181-189.
SEPTEMBER
9/28/2012: The Finnish natural gas company Gasum will provide a prize for the best LL.M.
thesis in the area of natural gas business
The energy law program at the University of Eastern Finland starts cooperation with Gasum. The
company will provide a prize for the best LLM thesis in the area of natural gas business.
The Director of the LLM program, Professor Kim Talus is pleased. "This is excellent from
student perspective. It is also a compliment for the program. The interest of the energy industry
shows that the decision to launch the international and European energy law and policy program
was good".
The University of Eastern Finland launches an LLM diploma program in international and
European energy law and policy in January 2013. This program strengthens the expertise of the
University in this area.
9/24/2012: UEF participates in the UN meeting on climate change technologies in Thailand
Dr. Yulia Yamineva (Post-doctoral researcher at the UEF), attended the fourth meeting of the
Technology Executive Committee of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in
Bangkok, Thailand on 6-8 September 2012. The Committee is a recently established expert body
under the Convention to promote technology development and transfer for climate change
mitigation and adaptation. As a result of her participation at the meeting, Dr. Yamineva coauthored a report summarising the main developments of the Committee's work for the
International Institute for Sustainable Development. The report is available at
http://www.iisd.ca/ymb/climate/tec/tec4/html/ymbvol205num1e.html
9/24/2012: New Study on Internationalisation of Petroleum Agreements
A study by Professor Kim Talus (together with Scott Looper and Steven Otillar) focusing on the
internationalization of various legal and contractual aspects of the petroleum industry has been
published by Journal of World Energy Law and Business under the title ‘Lex Petrolea and the
internationalization of petroleum agreements: focus on Host Government Contracts' (issue
(2012)
5
(3):
181-193).
PDF
version
available
at:
http://jwelb.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/reprint/jws017?ijkey=9bn9F8IADxcqTiS&keytype=ref
9/18/2012: New EU energy research from University of Eastern Finland
Seita
Romppanen:
Regulating
Better
Biofuels
for
the
European
Union
European Energy and Environmental Law Review, June 2012/21, pages 123-141
The article evaluates the legal applicability of the EU sustainability scheme against the global
scenario of biofuels. Indirect land-use change is explored as the culminating issue of biofuel
sustainability. The article also analyses the current regulatory approach, from the view that is it
adequate in terms of securing the sustainable production of biofuels, especially in relation to the
notion on "global" biofuels. Combating climate change forces new environmental problems to
stand out, which also creates new legal challenges. In the field of dynamic climate change law,
biofuel sustainability is an apt example of this. Comprehensive European or global regulation on
sustainable biofuels does not yet exist. In the near future, it is likely that 10 percent of the energy
used for transportation in the EU will consist mostly of biofuels, the majority of which will be
imported from third countries. As the EU only has legislative jurisdiction regarding its Member
States, the asymmetry between the locations of feedstock, the production of biofuel and the end
users creates particular legal challenges for the sustainability scheme.
9/17/2012: New expert reports from UEF researchers
Dr. Kati Kulovesi, together with Dr. Antto Vihma (Finnish Institute of International Affairs), has
completed a report commissioned by the Nordic Council of Ministers on ways to improve global
climate negotiations. The report entitled "Strengthening Global Climate Change Negotiations:
Improving the Efficiency of the UNFCCC Process" can be downloaded here:
http://www.norden.org/da/publikationer/publikationer/2012-902.
Dr Kati Kulovesi, Professor Kim Talus and Professor Tapio Määttä have completed a report
commissioned by the Finnish Ministry of Environment relating to the possibilities of a new
national Climate Change Act in Finland.
9/17/2012: International energy policy conference held in Joensuu
The conference will take place on 4 and 5 March 2013 and will focus on the regulation and
market governance of energy markets at national, European and international levels. The event
will also serve as a discussion forum for the next research projects of PEEER and ELRF.
Click here to learn more about the conference (.pdf).
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9/10/2012: Editorial appointments in energy and climate change
Dr. Kati Kulovesi (Adjunct Professor in climate law at the UEF) has been appointed to the
editorial board of Transnational Environmental Law, a peer-reviewed journal for the study of
environmental law and governance beyond the state published by the Cambridge University
Press.
Professor Kim Talus has been appointed to the editorial board of Journal of World Energy Law
and Business, a peer-reviewed journal that publishes articles on legal, business and policy issues
in the international energy industry. The journal is published by Oxford University Press. Kim
Talus is also the Editor-in-Chief for OGEL.
9/5/2012: UEF participates in UN climate change meeting in Thailand
Dr. Yulia Yamineva (Post-doctoral researcher at the UEF), attends the fourth meeting of the
Technology Executive Committee of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in
Bangkok, Thailand from 6-8 September 2012.
9/4/2012: UEF UN cooperation continues in 2012
The UEF Department of Law, together with the UN Environment Programme, have just
organised the Ninth Annual Course on Multilateral Environmental Agreements (from 19 to 31
August 2012). This year, the course took place in Grenada and focused on the law of the sea.
(Professor Tuomas Kuokkanen, Seita Romppanen and Niko Soininen from the UEF Department
of Law participated.)