31/03/2010
On 29 March Andreas Goldthau, Associate Professor, Department of Public Policy presented his new book, co-written with Jan Martin Witte (Brookings Press, 2010). John Shattuck, President and Rector delivered the opening remarks, drawing attention to the relevance of the issue of energy governance, and the timeliness of the book for a field that still remains understudied.
The global market for oil and gas resources is rapidly changing. The rise of new consumers, the increasing influence of state players, and concerns about climate change challenge existing regulatory structures, many of which have been in place for a half-century. Building on a 2-year research project, Professor Goldthau presented that "Global Energy Governance" investigates how regulatory institutions can ensure reliable sources of energy, evaluate financial risk, and provide emergency response mechanisms to deal with interruptions in supply. In the book decision makers from industry, government, and civil society address the two central questions of what the current practices of existing institutions governing global oil and gas are, and how these institutions need to adapt in order to meet the challenges of the twenty-first century.
Julius Horvath, Head, Department of Economics provided a personal view of the book at the end of Professor Goldthau’s presentation, in which he called the book “inspirational”, and expressed his hopes that the new School of Public Policy at CEU will lay emphasis on the subject of energy governance. Professor Horvath also provided discussion points for the audience.