Commentator
Jessika Richter, Associate senior lecturer, The International Institute for Industrial Environmental Economics, Lund University
Leader of the assessment
Professor Margrethe Buskerud Christoffersen, Department of Private Law, University of Oslo.
Supervisors
Eléonore Maitre-Ekern, Researcher Scientist, PhD, The Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA).
David Monciardini, Assistant Professor, University of Turin
Abstract
As the European Union and Norway pursue ambitious net-zero transportation goals through electric vehicle adoption, does the management of end-of-life batteries inadvertently expose a critical vulnerability in environmental sustainability, which then pose an overlooked environmental risk to the success of this transition?
The global climate crisis has reached a critical inflection point, 2024 is set to be the hottest year on record, temporarily hitting the 1.5°C above the pre-industrial era. Transportation is one of the largest emitters of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide and being the only sector where emissions have been on the rise since 1990. Decarbonizing the transport sector, a major and increasing source of greenhouse gas emissions, is a key focus of global climate action, primarily through the adoption of electric vehicles (EV). Ambitious policy packages like the EU's "Fit for 55" and national incentives, exemplified by Norway's world-leading EV adoption (89% of new car sales in 2024), underscore bold climate action in the transport sector.
However, the environmental benefits derived from EVs during their operational life risk being undermined by the challenges associated with their battery value chain, particularly at the end-of-life stage. Between now to 2030, over 12 million tons of lithium-ion batteries are projected to retire globally. Battery production necessitates the extraction of vast quantities of critical minerals like lithium, nickel, and cobalt through mining practices, generating significant associated emissions. As EV batteries reach their typical 8–10-year lifespan, deficiencies in current disposal systems threaten to result in vast quantities of hazardous waste. Fragmented infrastructure for collection, recycling, and reuse, coupled with risks of unsafe stockpiling and the landfilling of valuable critical minerals, alongside reliance on geopolitically concentrated supply chains, directly contradict the goals of reducing GHG emissions and achieving broader sustainability objectives. Therefore, improper end-of-life management impedes the very purpose of transitioning to electric mobility.
It is important to address these issues with a robust transition from a linear "take-make-waste" model to circular economy for EV batteries. This involves transforming end-of-life batteries from waste streams into valuable secondary resources through advanced recovery processes and maximizing their utility via second-life applications. This thesis argues that legal and policy instruments play a pivotal role in driving this essential systemic shift and ensuring that transitional environmental impacts do not undermine broader climate goals.
The EU Battery Regulation stands as a landmark legislative achievement, establishing the first comprehensive EU regulatory framework regulating the entire battery lifecycle by introducing key mechanisms. This research investigates how law and policy can be most effectively leveraged to drive the necessary systemic changes across the entire EV battery value chain. Through a critical legal analysis, informed by interdisciplinary insights, derived from relevant technical knowledge and practical stakeholder perspectives, and collaboration with the EMPOWER team, this thesis critically analyses the legal framework intended to govern this transition, placing particular emphasis on the role of policymakers as key drivers. The research explores whether these legal and policy frameworks, notably the EU Regulation and national implementation and policy, such as in Norway, are sufficiently comprehensive and adequately designed to drive and govern a truly sustainable and circular EV battery value chain.
By critically assessing the current regulatory landscape and identifying potential gaps, this research aims to contribute to the development of a more coherent legal framework for a sustainable and circular EV battery value chain, arguing that the success of the net-zero transition fundamentally relies on closing the battery material loop to ensure environmental sustainability, mitigating EV battery waste, and positioning both the EU and Norway as a global leader for a cleaner and more sustainable future.
Program
- King Men Teoh - Presentation (30 min.)
- Jessika Richter - Comments (30 min.)
- Open discussion (30 min.)
- Closed meeting (30 min.)
Guidelines for midway assessments
Guidelines for midway assessments, the PhD programme at the Faculty of Law, University of Oslo
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Contact
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Kristin Koren Viksjø