Okategoriserade Baltic Worlds Roundtable. A Closer Look at the Energy Sector

Based on three basic themes - multi-level governance, sustainable development, knowledge of the issues involved - the aim of the Baltic Worlds Annual Roundtable 2010 is to gather a number of stakeholders and scholars to discuss the development of the energy sector in the Baltic Sea Region. Welcome the 24th of November to Södertörn University.

Published on balticworlds.com on November 12, 2010

The Baltic Worlds Annual Roundtable 2010 “The Energy Sector in the Baltic Sea Region – Governance, Sustainability and Knowledge“ is dedicated to the energy sector in the Baltic Sea Region. Over the last decade the energy sector has been an arena of intense discussion. Several organizations, networks and action plans – including Baltic 21, Basrec, the Baltic Energy Market Interconnection Plan (BEMIP), and the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region – have been established to improve energy governance and sustainability. The latter was a key priority for Sweden’s EU Presidency in 2009. The concept involves better coordination of resources and funds to address specific regional challenges. Escalating environmental threats, gaps in economic development and poor transport accessibility have been pointed out as challenges, which need to be tackled urgently.

The Baltic energy sector has also been up against several challenges and issues of contention. The increasing volume of oil transportation from Russia has raised concerns among other Baltic Sea states over the risk of oil spills. Conflicting interests and conflicting perceptions on the construction of a Russo-German gas pipeline between Russia and Germany on the Baltic Sea seabed- Nord Stream – is another case in point. The project has been controversial for both political and environmental reasons.

Based on three basic themes, the aim of the Baltic Worlds Annual Roundtable 2010 is to gather a number of stakeholders and scholars to discuss the development of the energy sector in the Baltic Sea Region: multi-level governance, sustainable development, knowledge of the issues involved.

Each of the themes brings a set of challenges to the energy sector.

First, how is, for instance, the multiplicity of factors and levels of decision-making (i.e. local, national, transnational, EU, global) managed and – more generally – which challenges are we facing? The United Nations 2005 World Summit Outcome Document concludes that “sustainable development” denotes three interdependent and mutually reinforcing pillars: economic development, social development, and environmental protection. How can the social, economic, and environmental dimensions of sustainable development be accommodated? Finally, what kind of knowledge is available concerning the energy sector and how can the quality and spread of this knowledge be improved?

Ultimately, the ambition is to bring forward a discussion that sheds new light on regional cooperation around the Baltic Sea: where is the region heading economically, politically, socially, and environmentally; where has regional cooperation turned out to be fruitful and where are the remaining obstacles? In short, how does the future look for the Baltic Sea Region?

Participants:
Michael Bradshaw (Professor of Human Geography, Leicester University) Read abstract here>>
Nikolai Dobronravin (Professor of International Relations, Saint Petersburg State University)
Tora Leifland Holmström (Communications Project Manager Sweden, Nord Stream)
Susanne Oxenstierna (PhD, researcher Swedish Defence Research Agency)
Mia Crawford (Senior Advisor, Council of Baltic Sea States)
Per Högström (departementssekreterare, Energienheten på näringsdepartementet)

To attend: send an e-mail to johnny.rodin@sh.se. Registration deadline is November 23, 2010.

Time and Date: 9.30-17.00, 24 November 2010
Location: Room MB 503, Södertörn University

Further information contact: johnny.rodin@sh.se or michael.gilek@sh.se.

Johnny Rodin