About the project
Transport is the highest greenhouse gas emitting sector, and Norway is the global leader in electric vehicles (EVs) by encouraging its citizens to switch to the use of EVs with green tax deals.
The European Parliament and the Council adopted the new Batteries Regulation on 12 July 2023, with the aim of making batteries sustainable and circular throughout their entire life cycle – from the sourcing of materials to their collection, recycling and repurposing.The EMPOWER Project is an interdisciplinary project working with colleagues from the Department of Technology Systems, Psychology, Informatics, Mathematics, Education, and Private Law with the objective of answering the overarching research question: how can batteries used in mobility empower the transition to a net-zero system in Norway?
Work package 4, which is led by the Faculty of Law and which my project is part of, aims to examine and make proposal towards an encompassing long-term strategy toward sustainable EV batteries, focusing on the regulatory framework and policies thus allowing Norway to become a frontrunner in the field.
Goals
In my doctoral thesis, I address the following key research questions: are the laws that are currently regulating EV batteries in the EU and Norway sufficient and adequate to achieve a sustainable circular economy for EV batteries? How could the law and policies further be improved to enhance social and environmental benefits throughout the lifecycle of EV batteries?
In Norway, electric cars made up 82.4 percent of all new cars sold in 2023. While working towards decarbonised transport sector, Norway’s significant share of electric vehicles presents both opportunities and challenges in addressing the environmental impacts of battery production, energy use, mineral extractions, and waste management. Thus, by critically assessing, exploring and answering these questions, my thesis seeks to contribute to developing a strong and coherent regulatory framework for sustainable batteries in the net zero emissions target (i.e the balance between the amount of greenhouse gas produced and the amount removed from the atmosphere) that aligns with Norway’s ambition to be a leader in sustainable, circular economy practices.