Call for Abstracts: International Conference on Energy Sustainability in a Global Era (IC-ESG 2027), School of Law, Bennett University [Hybrid, Greater Noida; 22-23 January 2027]

Bennett University, Greater Noida, was founded in 2016 by the Times Group and is accredited with an A+ grade by NAAC, with recognition from the University Grants Commission (UGC), the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) and the Bar Council of India (BCI). Its School of Law offers B.A. LL.B. (Hons.), B.B.A. LL.B. (Hons.), LL.M. and Ph.D. programmes, and is currently marking its decennial year. IC-ESG 2027 is organised jointly by the School's Centre for Energy Law, Policy and Sustainability (CELPS) and its Centre for Sustainable Development and Climate Change.

The International Conference on Energy Sustainability in a Global Era: Law, Technology and International Relations (IC-ESG 2027) will be held in hybrid mode on 22 and 23 January 2027 at the Bennett University campus in Greater Noida.

The conference responds to a global energy sector being reshaped by climate change, technological innovation, geopolitical realignment and the need to secure energy supply while meeting sustainable development goals. Against India's Viksit Bharat 2047 vision and its net-zero commitments, it offers an interdisciplinary platform for scholars, policymakers, industry leaders, legal practitioners, regulators, researchers and students to examine the evolving landscape of energy law and governance across electricity regulation, coal and mining, petroleum and natural gas, nuclear energy, renewables, emerging green technologies and international energy governance.

Emerging questions on the agenda include green hydrogen regulation, artificial intelligence in energy systems, critical mineral governance, cybersecurity in energy infrastructure, cross-border energy cooperation, and the effect of geopolitical developments such as the West Asia crisis on global energy markets and supply chains, alongside the legal mechanisms for resolving energy disputes through arbitration, regulatory enforcement and contractual risk management.

• To examine the evolving legal and regulatory frameworks governing energy transition in India and globally, with a focus on sustainability, efficiency and energy security.
• To analyse the interface between energy law and climate commitments, including net-zero targets, carbon markets and international climate obligations.
• To explore emerging challenges and innovations in energy governance, such as renewable integration, green hydrogen, energy storage, digitalisation and smart energy systems.
• To foster interdisciplinary dialogue and policy-oriented research by bringing together academia, policymakers, regulators and industry stakeholders to develop robust and future-ready legal frameworks.

Contributions are invited on the following themes, including but not limited to:

Theme 1: Electricity Law and Regulatory Governance in the Evolving Power Sector

• Electricity market reforms, power exchanges and competitive procurement
• Distribution sector reforms, DISCOM sustainability and consumer protection
• Grid modernisation, smart grids and energy storage integration
• Electricity regulation, tariff design and regulatory governance
• Open access, green energy corridors and cross-border electricity trade

Theme 2: Coal, Mining and the Future of Energy Security

• Coal sector reforms, commercial mining and regulatory developments
• Environmental governance and ESG compliance in coal operations
• Just transition: balancing coal dependency with decarbonisation goals and the demands of Viksit Bharat 2047

Theme 3: Petroleum and Natural Gas Law in a Changing Energy Landscape

• Legal reforms and challenges in upstream, midstream and downstream operations
• LNG, natural gas infrastructure and emerging market opportunities
• PNGRB Act reforms, regulatory governance and the future of India's gas market
• Energy security, strategic petroleum reserves and supply chain resilience

Theme 4: The Nuclear Energy Conundrum in the Era of Clean Energy Transition

• Nuclear liability, safety and regulatory governance
• Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and emerging nuclear technologies
• International cooperation in nuclear energy development
• Nuclear power in achieving net-zero and energy security goals

Theme 5: Renewable Energy, Climate Governance and Sustainable Development

• Regulatory frameworks for solar, wind, hydro and bioenergy
• Renewable purchase obligations, carbon markets and green finance
• Grid integration, energy storage and transmission challenges
• Community participation and energy justice in renewable projects
• Emerging renewable energy frontiers

Theme 6: Emerging Green Energy Technologies: Law and Regulation

• Green hydrogen and hydrogen economy regulation
• Smart grids, digitalisation and AI in energy systems
• Electric mobility and EV infrastructure regulation
• Cybersecurity and data governance in energy networks

Theme 7: International Energy Governance and Energy Transition in the 21st Century

• Geopolitical conflicts and global energy security
• Climate commitments, net-zero targets and international energy law
• Cross-border energy trade and regional energy cooperation
• Geopolitical shift from petroleum to strategic mineral supply chains
• The future of global energy governance in a multipolar world

Theme 8: Energy Disputes, Arbitration and Regulatory Enforcement

• Energy arbitration and investment treaty disputes
• Regulatory litigation in electricity, petroleum and mining sectors
• Contractual risk management in energy projects
• Dispute resolution in renewable energy and infrastructure investments

Participation is open to students, research scholars, academicians and industry experts from law and other social science streams. The organisers invite contributions from scholars, policymakers, industry leaders, legal practitioners, regulators and researchers globally.

For UG, PG and Ph.D. students there is no bar on the number of participants from the same college, university or institution.

• The abstract should not exceed 800 words and must indicate the theme of the proposed research along with relevant keywords.
• It must be accompanied by a cover page carrying the title of the paper, the name of the author or authors, e-mail address and contact number.
• Co-authorship is allowed, with a maximum of three authors per paper.
• The similarity index in the paper must be less than 10 per cent.
• Only one submission should be made per paper.

A volume of conference proceedings containing the abstracts will be released at the inaugural session.

• Word limit: 4,000 to 8,000 words, excluding footnotes and the abstract.
• Citation format: ILI citation style.
• Font: Times New Roman 12, line spacing 1.5.

Selected papers will be featured in publication, either in Scopus-indexed conference proceedings or in a special issue of a journal published by a reputed academic publisher, as stated by the organisers.

The registration fee is payable per author. For co-authored papers, the cumulative fee for all authors must be paid together before the form is submitted.

• Single authorship: Rs 2,000
• Co-authorship: Rs 1,500 each
• Research scholars: Rs 1,000
• Students: Rs 500
• International single authorship: USD 50
• International co-authorship: USD 40 each

Registration and abstract submission are completed together through the official Google Form linked below. Applicants should keep the abstract file and the payment screenshot ready before starting the form, as both are uploaded within it.

Abstracts must be submitted by 30 August 2026. Acceptance of an abstract will be communicated within 15 days of submission, and the full paper is then due by 30 October 2026.

Certificates, permission to present, and consideration for publication will be provided only to registered authors.