In this blogpost, Imad Antoine Ibrahim (Phd researcher at the Institute of Law, Politics and Development (Dirpolis), Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies, Pisa) looks back at his experience in working with the Energy-SHIFTS project over the past couple of months, as an Early-Stage Researcher. He explains how the project brought him new perspectives: as an international lawyer, he gained new ideas on how to connect law and science, as well as reflections on the role of engineering and engineers in the energy transition.

In Energy-SHIFTS, we focus on bringing together various expertises, to support the adoption of appropriate policies that can achieve the desired objective of the energy transition. Indeed, a successful policy requires considering all the different angles and views, which can only be possible by having various expertises. The alternative is having policies that may potentially affect citizens negatively due to unforeseen consequences.

The research conducted as part of the project was beneficial to my research career, which is focused on energy transition in international law and its interplay with natural resources. The research helped me to further understand the ways international law should address this topic.

Based on my experience in the project, I am currently drafting a chapter titled “ A Global Administrative Law Approach to Green Economy” which will be published by Palgrave Macmillan.

I assisted in selecting the Policy Fellows and matching those working in the Social Sciences and Humanities with experts (Policy Associates) who conduct research on energy transition. Through this, I learned how energy transition can be addressed from an interdisciplinary perspective and across different countries and levels (state, local and so on). I also learned how such a combination can lead to the development of new ideas and provide much added value to all the stakeholders involved. For instance, analysing the question of promoting citizen engagement in energy by local authorities was crucial for me.

It helped me to understand the importance of developing information policies targeting citizens, rather than simply relying on traditional energy regulations.

Through this analysis, I realized the importance of other disciplines such as Political Science and Sociology for the successful implementation of highly sophisticated energy laws.

I also contributed to the “Live Energy Policy Challenges: Questions for the Social Sciences & Humanities”. The biggest realization in writing this was the complexity and interconnectedness of the various challenges.

Achieving energy transition requires addressing questions related to engaging the public trust; realizing energy efficiency; involving the citizens in the process through local authorities, and considering the values and beliefs of energy decisionmakers.

All these challenges must be addressed simultaneously by the law at the local, national and international level.

Collaboration is vital for a  smooth energy transition. Hopefully, the positive experience of this project will pave the road for future similar collaborations. Such initiatives are needed to ensure a sound energy transition.

Imad Antoine Ibrahim is currently a PhD candidate at the Institute of Law, Politics and Development (Dirpolis), at Santanna School of Advanced Studies in Pisa, Italy, as well as a Research Associate at gLAWcal – Global Law Initiative for Sustainable Development, Essex, United Kingdom.