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The Millennium Development Goals (MDGS) aim at freeing a major portion of humanity

from the shackles of extreme poverty, hunger, illiteracy and disease. They establish

targets for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of women, environmental

sustainability and a global partnership for development. In short, they adopt a blueprint

for a better world. More than halfway into the finishing the timeline for meeting these

goals, the economic crisis that has hit the world economies today is said to affect the

capacity of the countries, especially the least developed ones to meet these goals.

However, according to the UN Secretary General this is not the time to retreat but to

accelerate progress towards the MDGs and strengthen the global partnership for

development.

Renewable energy and its sustainable use remains one of the major concerns of the world

community till date. Access to affordable energy services is fundamental to human

activities, development, and economic growth. Energy is intricately linked to the

economy, social and health issues, environmental protection, and food security, and

proper of energy use shall result in sustainable development. Thus, Sustainable Use of

Energy has often been referred to as the Missing MDG.

It is in this context, that NALSAR University of Law in collaboration with the Clark and

Kent Law Schoolseeks to provide a common platform for the best minds in the world to

bring forth their ideas with respect to sustainable energy practices in the world, which

would help in the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. The Conference

invites participation of experts, academics, entrepreneurs and student community, to help

understand the existing problems in the energy sector of the world and to provide

practical solutions to the same for a better future.

SUB-THEMES:

1. Permanent Sovereignty over Natural Resources versus International Co-

operation- Access and Consumption of Energy in the Developed, Developing and

Under-developed countries.

a. Towards Pragmatism: International Co-operation in Natural Resource

Policy

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b. Extension of control over marine resources

c. Equitable sharing of trans-boundary natural resources

d. Duty to co-operate for international development

e. Changing perceptions of sovereignty, foreign investment and the role of

international law

2. Sustainable Lifestyles- Lifestyles that reflect effective use of energy resources.

a. Traditional lifestyles and rights of indigenous peoples

b. Green consumerism

c. Imperative for renewable energy resources

d. Relative poverty and issues of access to energy

3. Thinking Globally, Acting Locally- Focus is on technologies created in small

towns and villages of the world, which help in sustainable use of energy; This

Part shall focus on local capacity building for better access and use of energy

4. Corporate Social Responsibility- Social development no longer remains the

responsibility of democratic governments but also of corporations that form an

interest group in the economic and social development of countries.

5. Globalization as the vehicle for accessible energy- Globalization has the potential

to provide access to cleaner and efficient technologies

a. Globalization and the development and deployment of human capital.

b. (open for suggestions)