Shaping Tomorrow: Climate Justice and Renewable Energy

The third day commenced with the presentation by Professors from Leiden University Otto Spijkers and Luísa Netto. Professors shed light on the intricacies of climate litigation in the Netherlands through discussing the landmark cases and the applicable procedural law, which allows CSOs to represent public interest, including the rights of nature and the future generations. 

Damir Miljević, an expert in energy transition and an energy lawyer Miloš Laković discussed the current state of play regarding renewable energy projects and relevant regulatory framework in the Western Balkans, particularly focusing on the current obstacles for energy transition and discussing possible pathways for moving forward. 

Highlights:

• Overexpansion of rights without a critical approach may lack practical legal impact and dilute their value. Instead, focusing on well-established concepts like intergenerational and climate justice could enable addressing future generations’ interests within existing legal frameworks.
• Renewable energy is now cheaper than fossil fuels, driving the energy transition from the economic perspective. In the Western Balkans where abundant renewables exist, the challenge lies in achieving a sustainable energy transition – one that benefits the economy, makes energy affordable and accessible for all and contributes to decarbonizing domestic consumption.
• Decarbonization of the energy sector should focus on empowering citizens and the economy to produce their own energy, endorsing solar projects and especially prioritizing environmental protection, instead of favoring investors’ needs by offering subsidies without adequate oversight.