Legal Framework of Green Hydrogen Production and Hydrogen Economy for Sustainable Development Authors

Abstract

This book provides a deep insight into the Hydrogen Economy and its regulatory framework. The emergence of the global green hydrogen economy poses a complex legal challenge, requiring the development of flexible and holistic legal frameworks to support new technologies within unique sectors and among various legal systems. From fledgling novelties to indispensable elements of energy systems worldwide, hydrogen technologies are about to transform, and legal frameworks will play an essential role on a rugged regulatory terrain to goad investment, to guarantee safety, and to support a sustainable in-place. The complexity of hydrogen’s production, transport, storage, and use needs consistent regulation to facilitate smooth integration into the industrial, transport, and energy sectors. The absence of internationally recognised certification and varying uptake of technical standards are obstacles to integration in the market and potentially undermine public confidence. There is also an unresolved tension between the speed of deployment and meaningful stakeholder engagement, in particular, when projects are being fast-tracked on the grounds of higher public interest. In the future, the shift towards a global hydrogen economy will rely on a convergence of national legal regimes with global norms, adapted to local circumstances. Harmonisation activities arranged by bodies like ISO, IRENA, or IEA are very important for the acceptance of common definitions, certification procedures, and safety requirements. Bilateral and multilateral relationships and harmonisation of domestic regulation towards international best practice will play a key role in supporting efficient and transparent cross-border hydrogen flows. But harmonisation also has its dangers; the danger of regulatory “race to the bottom,” erosion of national policy autonomy, and how to tradeoff between rigour and flexibility all need to be deftly handled. Policymakers should focus in particular on establishing solid, evidence-based certification schemes, open and inclusive stakeholder involvement, and the adjustability of the legal frameworks to changes in technology and markets. In the end, the legal structure surrounding the hydrogen economy should be flexible as well as principled, creating the conditions for innovation and investment without compromising on environmental and social aims. With the lesson of comparative experiences acting as reminders to stay committed to international cooperation, the world can speed up the transition to a sustainable, integrated hydrogen economy -- one that materially supports climate ambitions, energy security, and economic opportunities.

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