• Energy Research
• 2021-2025close
• 16. Peace & justice close
• 7. Clean energy close
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Currently, society is assisting in transitioning from centralized power generation to distributed power generation [1, 2]. This transition is necessary for various reasons that essentially reside on some fundamental points: 1.The current electric lines can not withstand the energy demand of an increasing number of energy-intensive vehicles, especially for mobility [3]. 2.The ever-increasing availability of small electric generators has created many small electricity producers, and on-site use becomes more advantageous [4]. 3.Technologies concerning electrochemical devices for the production and use of energy are particularly efficient for small sizes [5]. In this scenario, the development of energy conversion devices such as solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) and devices for the storage of electricity such as solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOEC) and metal-air solid oxide batteries can play a crucial role [6, 7]. Solid oxide cells (SOC) are electrochemical devices capable of converting chemical energy into electrical energy when used as SOFCs and vice versa when operated as SOECs. A similar cell can also be used as cell batteries, allowing electricity storage, depending on the grid demand. The current problem is that such devices cannot be considered sufficiently mature because not enough time has passed from their conceptualization to their demonstration for real uses. Therefore, we are assisting to a proliferation of concepts that simulate their perspectives in a suitable environment. Based on these considerations, this communication reports the ideas and prototypes adopted by our research group to improve the flexibility in the use of fuels (SOFC), the convenience of direct methane production through commercial SOEC cells and the realization of a simple and cheep architecture of metal-air battery.

The paper investigates how the relationships between climate change, disasters and human rights are framed within the realm of international law. The paper takes into exam: i) the interaction between international climate change law and international disaster law; ii) the integration of human rights into international climate change law and international disaster law; iii) the international human rights obligations applicable to climate action and disaster management. The aim is to shed light on the synergies and conflicts between the three relevant international law regimes.

Who can fight against climate change and global warming? Who ought to fight? What is the role of the human rights-based climate change litigation? The paper tries to answer these questions, having as a starting point the definition of a “minimum content” of the fight against climate change and global warming. Acting against climate change and global warming firstly means carrying out a global collective action involving actors (individuals, States, enterprises, generations) with different levels of awareness and responsibility. Given the above, the paper focuses on the “climate legal obligation” whose source is rooted in the International (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Kyoto Protocol, Paris Agreement) and EU climate law, with the aim to point out the legal duties of every single State. Consequently, the paper underlines how the climate obligation specifically requires the adoption of mitigation measures in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Finally, moving from the Dutch Urgenda case, the paper points out the role of the human rights-based climate change litigation in the global fight against climate crisis.

This volume deals with the issues of the management and reuse of places of worship and, specifically, of Catholic churches as cultural assets of religious interest in Italy. Having reconstructed the complex discipline for the “reduction to non-indecorous profane use” pursuant to canon 1222 § 2 - and the “dismissal” - transfer of ownership - of churches, the exposition continues with the examination of concrete cases of reuse, which occurred in the Archdiocese of Turin between 1978 and 2019. Once disused buildings of worship have been classified as “common goods”, the new models of governance, inclusive and sustainable, able to transform these overabundant properties into a resource for the social, economic, and cultural development of the territorial communities of reference, are identified in the collaboration pacts, in the participation foundation and in the trust. Buildings of Worship as Cultural Heritage in Italy. New Scenarios for the Management and Reuse of Catholic Churches Between Canon Law and State Law

On 24 February 2019, the Parliament of Uganda approved the National Environment Act to provide for a correct management of the environment and natural resources. The Act was adopted in order to enhance the protection of the environment, address a strategic assessment in implementing environmental rights and sustainable development, and increase penalties for offences against nature. The relevance of this Act stands in the radical change of the legal consideration of the environment and nature. Indeed, the Ugandan legislation appears to alter the classical parameter of environmental law in considering Nature a subject entitled to its own rights with the possibility of recurring before the Courts in case of danger and/or violations. This reform marks a shift from an anthropocentric vision of the environment towards a more geocentric construction of environmental law. Nuovi Autoritarismi e Democrazie: Diritto, Istituzioni, Societ�� (NAD-DIS), V. 3 N. 2 (2021)

La lotta al cambiamento climatico è una priorità dell'agenda politica internazionale. Da un lato i report dell'International Panel on Climate Change sottolineano la necessità di adottare misure mitigative capaci di produrre effetti tangibili nei prossimi anni. Dall'altro lato il regime giuridico dei cambiamenti climatici è stato promosso negli ultimi trent'anni dalle Nazioni Unite con l'adozione della Convenzione Quadro sui Cambiamenti Climatici (1992), del Protocollo di Kyoto (1997) infine dell'Accordo di Parigi (2015). Il contributo si interroga sulle prospettive del contrasto al cambiamento in seguito all'invasione russa dell'Ucraina evidenziando l'impatto del conflitto sulle condizioni di sistema necessarie per realizzare una efficace governance globale del contrasto al cambiamento climatico. The fight against climate change is a priority on the international political agenda. On the one hand, the reports of the International Panel on Climate Change underline the need to adopt mitigative measures able to reach tangible effects in the next years. On the other hand, the international climate change regime has been promoted in the last thirty years by the United Nations through the adoption of the Unite Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (1992), the Kyoto Protocol (1997) and the Paris Agreement (2015). The paper analyses the consequences of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on the international climate change regime, highlighting the impact of the conflict on the systemic conditions needed to fight against climate change in the perspective of global governance.

After analyzing the characteristics of climate change-related migration and highlighting the lack of protection for environmental migrants in international law, the article addresses the similar gap in the Common European Asylum System. This shortcoming is not remedied by the current proposals to amend the existing legislation contained in the Pact on Migration and Asylum, as the Pact does not provide specific protection for environmental migrants. Therefore, at the moment, only the set of international human rights standards has to be resorted to in order to ensure protection for environmental migrants, as shown by the recent monitoring activity carried out by the Human Rights Committee and the recent orientation of the Italian Court of Cassation.