This book is the result of a joint effort by the International Association of Energy Law. The International Association of Energy Law is a group of academics with a keen interest in energy law and the ways in which it impacts society as well as other branches of law. The group consists of post-docs, assistant, associate and full professors from all permanently inhabited continents. The aim of the group is to spread knowledge and interest about energy law beyond academia and to engage with society on topics that are key to the current energy transitions.
Against this background, this book is a contribution from law to the development and further shaping of a relatively new concept – sustainable energy democracy. A comprehensive legal perspective on this crucial topic has not previously been taken, despite its importance for the future set-up of our societies. The book is meant to fill this gap. Each chapter of the book focuses on one broader concept that is key to the overall vision of a sustainable energy democracy. These concepts are then assessed from a legal point of view by focusing on the functioning of the respective concept in a particular jurisdiction or under a specific set of rules.
This thorough approach would not have been possible without the efficient and disciplined work of the group and the sustained high quality of contributions from all its members. The editors would, thus, like to thank all members of the International Association of Energy Law as well as people beyond the group, for all their efforts in putting together this timely and relevant book. In particular, the editors would like to thank research assistant Onerva Aalto and language editor Rupert Haigh for their efforts in finalising this book.
This research was supported by the University of Eastern Finland Law School and the Strategic Research Council’s Project core (313013).
Ruven Fleming, Kaisa Huhta and Leonie Reins