The UNESCO Chair on Environmental Law and Sustainable Development at Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), in partnership with the Centre for International Law (CIL) at the National University of Singapore, hosted a webinar marking the publication of Regional Energy Interconnectivity and Sustainable Development: The Role of International Law.
The publication appears in a special issue of the Journal of Energy and Natural Resources Law (JERL), published by the International Bar Association’s (IBA) Section on Energy, Environment, Natural Resources and Infrastructure Law.
Bringing together perspectives from academia, policymaking, and legal practice, the publication explores how international law can support sustainability in cross-border energy projects. Through thematic and geographically diverse case studies, it highlights both opportunities and challenges in using legal frameworks to promote regional energy interconnectivity while balancing environmental, economic, and social priorities.
The webinar examined key themes from the publication, co-edited by Professor Damilola S. Olawuyi, UNESCO Chairholder on Environmental Law and Sustainable Development at HBKU’s College of Law, and Denise Cheong, former Head of the Energy Law and Policy Team at CIL.
Opening remarks were delivered by Dr. Susan L. Karamanian, Dean of the College of Law at HBKU, and Nilufer Oral, Director of CIL.
Delivering the keynote address, titled The Importance of Soft Law in Shaping the Future of Energy, Leonardo Sempertegui, General Legal Counsel at the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), highlighted the evolving landscape of energy law. Drawing on his experience, he emphasized the importance of stakeholder collaboration in advancing sustainable development and strengthening multilateral approaches to energy and environmental governance.
Commenting on the special issue, Professor Olawuyi said addressing today’s interconnected challenges requires collaboration across disciplines, sectors, and borders.
“By bringing together diverse experiences from different regions, this special issue seeks to advance practical and evidence-based discussions on how international law can support regional energy connectivity while delivering long-term environmental, economic, and social benefits,” he said.
The event concluded with a panel discussion moderated by Professor Olawuyi and Cheong, featuring experts from academia and research. The discussion explored recent developments in legal and regulatory frameworks for regional energy projects, with a particular focus on managing risks during project planning and implementation, especially in times of crisis.
Source: HBKU Qatar