UoB Dubai-ASSELLMU Experts Roundtable on Net-Zero and Just Energy Transitions

About the Workshop

The University of Birmingham Dubai in conjunction with the UNESCO Chair on Environmental Law and Sustainable Development at the Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar, and the The Association of Environmental Law Lecturers in Middle East and North African Universities (ASSELLMU), cordially invites the general public to this energy experts’ roundtable.

One of the landmark decisions at COP28 was a recognition of the need for ‘inclusive and participatory approaches to just transitions that leave no one behind.’ While the aim of the ongoing global net-zero energy transition is clear, the nature, scope and guiding principles of natural resources law and policy required to achieve it in a just, orderly and inclusive manner is still evolving in many parts of the world. A starting point is the need to explore how legal and governance frameworks can be revitalised to drive a just, orderly and inclusive energy transition, especially to promote the security and sustainability of supply of essential natural resources needed to drive the transition process. 

Post COP28, the aim of this roundtable is to bring together leading scholars, practitioners, policy makers, students and other stakeholders to examine and share experience on just and equitable net zero energy transitions in the Middle East and beyond. The event also aims to enable a fruitful discussion with today’s youth and as such, students will be given an opportunity to present their projects and share their suggestions on the role that corporate entities can play in a just and equitable transition to net zero. 

Cutting edge questions to be raised and discussed include:

• What are the roles of natural resources, such as natural gas, solid minerals and renewables in the ongoing global energy transition; and what are the policy changes required to ensure their just and equitable exploitation in light of projected exponential growth in demand for them?
• What are the existing enablers, challenges, and barriers faced for equitable financing for climate adaptation?
• What are innovative legal tools, governance best practices, research, resources and models that can enhance legal and institutional capacity on just net zero transitions?
• What are the capacity development gaps and needs of natural resources practitioners, policymakers and scholars, and how can they be met to improve local content in the design and implementation of just net-zero plans? 

Keynote and Plenary Speakers

• Professor Damilola S. Olawuyi, SAN, UNESCO Chair on Environmental and Sustainable Development, HBKU, and ASSELLMU President
• Dr Walters Nsoh, Associate Professor in Law, University of Birmingham
• Ms. Yasmine Barbir, Founder of Responsible Legacy and ESG Consultant
• Dr Riyad Fahkri, Vice President, ASSELLMU & Professor of Law, Hassan First University of Settat, Morocco
• Dr Omar Al Khataibeh, Lawyer / Board Member of ASSELLMU
• Dr Aude-Solveig Epstein, Visiting Assistant Professor of Legal Studies, New York University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
• Mehrnoosh Aryanpour, SJD candidate, Carey Law School, University of Pennsylvania, United States
• Dr Duygu Sever Mehmetoglu, Post Doctoral Associate, Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar, Doha, Qatar
• Feryal Fekri, LLM Energ & Env Law, UoB Dubai
• Jose Cezar Fittipaldi, LLM Energ & Env Law, UoB Dubai
• Shugufta Shaikh, LLM Intern Comm Law, UoB Dubai
• Josephine Ilesanmi, PhD candidate, Durban University of Technology, South Africa
• Tasniem Ahmed Elyass Hussain, JD Candidate, HBKU College of Law
• Elena Athwal, Harvard Law School, USA 

Session Chairs

• Dr Synda Obaji, Assistant Professor in Energy Law, University of Birmingham
• Zeenat Beebeejaun, Assistant Professor in Law, University of Birmingham Dubai

Agenda (PDF)