The Aberdeen University Centre for Energy Law (AUCEL) was recently represented at the International Conference on "Carbon Capture & Storage at Sea: Regulation and Governance of Transport, Sequestration, and Liability" hosted by the Faculty of Law at Lund University, Sweden, from 7-8 May 2026. The event convened scholars, regulators, and practitioners examining the legal and governance challenges associated with carbon capture and storage (CCS) deployment across jurisdictions.
At the conference, Daopu Somoni, PhD researcher at the School of Law, presented a paper titled “Emerging Regulatory Strategies Across the North Atlantic for CCS Technology Deployment: Critical Lessons for Emerging Economies” Through this research, he examined how North Atlantic jurisdictions are deploying CCS through interconnected regulatory strategies, including “value chain,” “whole-of-government,” and multitier governance models, which he framed into an overarching "command-partnership" regulatory approach. Discussing the relevance of his research findings, Daopu commented: “As emerging economies continue developing CCS policies and regulatory frameworks, lessons from North Atlantic jurisdictions remain highly relevant in supporting more seamless global CCS deployment.”
Speaking afterwards, Daopu noted: “I am grateful to AUCEL for forwarding the initial call for abstracts, which ultimately led to the opportunity to participate in such a timely and insightful conference.”
AUCEL was also represented by Dr Thomas Muinzer, Reader in Energy Transition Law at the University of Aberdeen, who participated as a panellist in the conference’s closing discussion examining “The Future of CCS Governance at Sea” Dr Muinzer’s contribution was informed by his expertise in climate law, environmental governance, and national climate legislation, all of which are areas where he has made significant scholarly and policy contributions through both research and public engagement.
The cross-cutting thematic panels and specialist discussions on ocean governance and sub-seabed storage, the law of the sea and CO₂ transport, legal standardisation, liability and insurance, and cross-border governance led Somoni to remark on the “interconnected nature of CCS governance and the importance of dialogue between academics, regulators, and practitioners.”
Continued support for members to engage in cross-jurisdictional collaboration, public engagement activities, and scholarship in energy and environmental law, remains at the core of AUCEL’s commitment, especially as the world navigates the socio-legal dimensions of the energy transition.