Energy Poverty and Socioeconomic Rights: Framing Energy as a Human Rights Issue

Description

This was a conference presentation at the 4th Durham Energy Disputes Conference held at Durham University Law School. The accepted abstract of my presentation reads as follows.

This paper examines the nexus between energy poverty and the (non)-realisation of socioeconomic rights. Currently, there is a scholarly debate as to whether there is a right to energy or energy right within the international human rights normative framework. This paper begins by engaging with the existing scholarly arguments for and against the right to energy, especially in the context of accessibility and affordability. Drawing on the express provisions of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), it argues that there is an emerging hard law recognition of the right to energy within the United Nations (UN) human rights system. Further, the paper draws on the provisions of other treaties such as the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and policy documents such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals, to argue that there exists an implied and soft law recognition of a derivative right to energy. In addition, the paper adopts Third World Approaches to International Law to problematise energy exploration and energy transition in developing countries. It contends that energy exploration and transition disproportionately affect people, depending on their geographical and political locations. Specifically, the paper argues that these explorative activities disproportionately and negatively impact the realisation of the socioeconomic rights of persons living in developing countries. Hence, building on the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, this paper advocates an international cooperation approach whereby developed countries and the international community would spotlight and address the socioeconomic rights needs of people in developing countries which continue to suffer energy injustice.

Period	11 Jul 2025 → 12 Jul 2025
Held at	Durham University, United Kingdom
Degree of Recognition	International