The International Office of the Ludovika University of Public Service (LUPS) organized a conference titled Human Rights in the Crossfire of Climate Change and Energy Supply on June 10, held in the university’s John Lukacs Lounge.
In his welcome speech, Pier Paolo Pigozzi, Vice-Rector for International Affairs at LUPS, stated: “We are proud that LUPS, as a leading academic institution in the region, is able to host internationally recognized experts on this topic to respond to the challenges related to climate change, energy supply, and associated human rights.” He expressed his pleasure that the event was organized within the framework of the Ludovika Fellowship Program and that several international students participating in the program were present at the conference despite the ongoing exam period. Pigozzi added that in the coming months, they will work on expanding bilateral agreements with the institutions represented by the experts attending the event.
Carlos Bernal, professor of law at the University of Dayton (USA) and Universidad de la Sabana in Bogotá, discussed the concept of constitutional energy law in his presentation, acknowledging the tension between this legal domain and the need to mitigate climate change. He emphasized the importance of addressing climate challenges through international treaties and agreements but warned against the dangers of "climate absolutism," which, in his view, could deprive societies of energy access and sovereignty.
Csaba Gondola, State Secretary for Circular Economy and Climate Policy at the Ministry of Energy, addressed the challenges of energy poverty and climate anxiety, stressing the need for affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy access. He highlighted that projections suggest around 775 million people worldwide will lack access to electricity by 2030, and even within the European Union, millions struggle to afford heating. According to the data, in 2022, more than 41 million citizens—about 9% of the population—were unable to adequately heat their homes. He noted that Hungary is fulfilling the majority of its climate commitments and is producing green and affordable energy.
Luigi Crema, professor of international law at Università degli Studi, Milan, spoke about how energy rights are appearing in international legal practice. He emphasized that access to energy is a critical dimension of modern society that must be integrated into the human rights discourse. He then elaborated on international legal cases related to renewable energy, with particular focus on proceedings in Spain and Italy.
Nicola Brizielli, an expert on the Italian and European energy markets, shared his extensive experience in the energy sector. He discussed the complexity of ensuring affordable energy during the transition to new technologies and presented data from the International Energy Agency (IEA), indicating that by 2020, electricity had become the dominant force in the EU’s energy mix, surpassing both renewable sources and fossil fuel production. Brizielli also pointed out several challenges facing the European energy sector, noting that Europe is the only continent experiencing a structural energy deficit.
Following the presentations, a roundtable discussion was held with the speakers, moderated by Liliana Śmiech, Director General for International Affairs at LUPS. The discussion focused on energy law, political approaches, and challenges within the European context. Topics included how Europe can reduce its dependence on Russian energy, and the fact that the EU imports most of its solar panels from China, potentially creating new forms of dependency. It was also raised that access to energy is increasingly being defined as a state obligation rather than an individual right by legislators.
Text: Éva Harangozó
Photo: Dénes Szilágyi