Publication Type

Journal Article

Version

acceptedVersion

Publication Date

8-2012

Abstract

This article systematically examines fundamental obstacles to effective and efficient global energy governance. The first part of the article defines and conceptualises governance, global governance and global energy governance. It also explores the existing global energy governance architecture, depicting six types of global energy governor – intergovernmental organisations, summit processes, international non-governmental organisations, multilateral financial institutions, regional organisations that involve two or more countries as members and hybrid entities – and a sample of 42 such institutions and organisations currently operating around the world. The second part of the article corrects some emerging misconceptions about global energy governance: that effective forms of governance are likely to occur because they have net benefits; that Western forms of energy governance can be transplanted to the rest of the world; and that regional energy governance is in some ways preferable to global energy governance. The article concludes that more nuanced and careful assessment will be needed, and misconceptions abandoned, if we are truly to respond to the governance issues induced by deteriorating energy security and growing emissions of greenhouse gases.

Keywords

energy industry, global governance, regional energy governance

Discipline

Energy Policy

Research Areas

Political Science

Publication

Journal of Energy and Natural Resources Law

Volume

30

Issue

3

First Page

235

Last Page

263

ISSN

0264-6811

Identifier

10.1080/02646811.2012.11435295

Publisher

International Bar Association

Additional URL

https://doi.org/10.1080/02646811.2012.11435295

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