Are we prepared for a substantial change of the energy system?

Social sciences play a crucial role The energy and climate policy in the EU and in many other states is to phase out the use of fossil fuels. The long term objective is instead energy effi ciency, including increased use of renew- ably energy resources. This policy cannot be obtained without technical advances, but these are not suffi cient. Several opposite interests occur, not least impacts on the local environment, and these interests are often supported by legal restrictions. Costs are crucial for successful implementation. And not least important, the policy should be legitimate: Will people accept thousands of new wind mills on and outside our shores? How would you like to see open fi elds in the European landscape being converted into "green walls" of energy forests? Policy implementation is a matter for research in social sciences, inter alia economics, political science and - which is the topic in this newsletter - law. Law has basically two functions; to solve confl icts between individuals and, which is most important here, to direct human behaviour so that politically important objec- tives are obtained. The law plays therefore a crucial role when designing and utilizing pathways to a sustainable energy sys- tem.