– The law must be in front of the green transition
– We have underestimated the importance of having good regulatory frameworks in place well in advance of major political and technical revolutions,’ says law professor Ignacio Herrera Anchustegui. He researches the boundaries of law and justice in an era where challenges are mounting and society must adapt quickly.
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Professor Ignacio Herrera Anchustegui works at the intersection of law, economics, and natural resource management. His research explores how legal frameworks determine who has the right to carry out different activities in energy and markets, under what conditions, and whether these rules support the goals of the energy transition and sustainable development.
“One example is my work on offshore energy infrastructure and how the law can create incentives for more efficient use and integrate circular economy approaches,” says Herrera Anchustegui, who leads the Climate, Energy, and Environmental Law research group at the University of Bergen’s Faculty of Law.
A Legal Lens on Energy Challenges
“What draws me to this field?” he asks. “So much is happening, and Bergen is a fantastic place to study these changes in the energy transition—right on the coast. The recent European energy crisis, the urgency to change our energy consumption, and the emergence of new industrial and technological opportunities are all motivators for working in this field.”
He emphasizes that the law is central to these developments, acting as both a barrier and a tool for change. “As a researcher positioned between government, industry, and society, this work is both fascinating and challenging,” he says.
Legal Research: Staying Ahead
Herrera Anchustegui highlights that his most important contribution to the green transition is critically assessing current legislation, evaluating proposals from bodies like the Norwegian Parliament, the EU, the WTO, and industry initiatives, and providing fact-based, legally informed perspectives.
“As an independent researcher, I can listen to multiple voices, discuss the consequences of actions, and assess whether they are legally sound. I can also suggest alternative approaches better suited to achieving policy goals.”
He stresses the need for proactive legal research: “Historically, legal research has often been seen as peripheral, or as consultancy for new technologies. We’ve underestimated the importance of having solid governance frameworks in place before major political and technical shifts. Legal research is usually playing catch-up—arriving ‘late to the party’ after innovations have emerged and politicians are under pressure. We need academic work that anticipates future challenges and understands the profound implications of the transition for law as a discipline.”
Green with a Touch of Blue
“UiB provides an excellent environment for studying the legal aspects of the green transition. Our faculty has an outstanding team exploring how traditional rules governing states, companies, and citizens are evolving under sustainability pressures,” Herrera Anchustegui explains.
In his own work, he aims to add a “touch of blue” to the green legal field, focusing on the coastal interface—how land and sea meet both physically and legally.
“Our goal is to be a leading voice in the Nordic region on these issues and to influence policymaking,” he concludes.