Energy law in crisis: an energy justice revolution needed

Energy research has been growing in a holistic way whereby researchers are connecting their research to the bigger picture of an 'energy system'. Energy law scholarship has lacked this direction and traditionally has focused too narrowly on specific topics such as electricity markets or extraction. A major limitation has permeated through scholarship in the area and relatively no connection is made to the energy system. Energy law scholarship did not for example, state where the energy system can improve and deliver a just outcome. The lack of identifying such a connection has permitted energy law scholars to fall under the radar and continue to work on issues that in essence support the continued development of traditional energy sources, ie, fossil fuels. Only a minority of researchers have shifted their focus in a real and impactful way to ensuring energy law delivers just outcomes for society. Energy justice scholarship has allowed scholars to do that. It has emerged as a major interdisciplinary energy research topic yet there remain remarkably few energy law scholars interacting with it. Many scholars remain reluctant to read beyond traditional research in energy law not to mention engage in interdisciplinary energy journals which increasingly publish legal scholarship. This article calls for the further development of the modern energy law scholar. For such scholars to exist, there needs to be a revolution in energy law scholarship to ensure law contributes to the ongoing global climate emergency.

Automated summary

Energy research has been growing holistically, but energy law scholarship lacks this direction and fails to connect with the bigger picture of the energy system. There is a need for a revolution in energy law scholarship to ensure just outcomes for society.