Edwin Woerdman is Professor of Markets and Regulation at the Faculty of Law. He is also Academic Director of the Energy and Climate Law LLM programme. We've asked him a few questions below to learn more about his academic profile and perspectives on the courses and programmes that he teaches within the Faculty.

What is your specific academic background, and what are your research interests? Do you currently work on any specific research projects?

I studied political science at Radboud University Nijmegen in the nineties, where I specialized in political and economic theory. In my current job, I basically teach climate economics to law students. To understand how I got here, I need to take you back to my youth. When I was a kid, my parents and I went hiking in the small Dutch forests almost every weekend. My father worked as a civil servant performing on-site inspections to verify if companies complied with environmental regulations. Amidst the trees, he taught me about the dangers of environmental pollution. All of this came together in my first job, here at the Faculty of Law in Groningen; I got to write a political science dissertation on market-based legal instruments to combat climate change. My main focus was on greenhouse gas emissions trading, for energy companies for instance, and that is still the case today. Emissions trading systems are controversial and complex, but they help to reduce emissions and continue to expand around the globe. As a full professor, I am primarily studying the (in)efficiency of carbon market regulation, together with some wonderful PhD students and colleagues.

What courses do you teach within the Faculty/Energy and Climate Law programme? 

As Academic Director of the Energy and Climate Law LLM programme, I help to develop all of its courses. Personally, I teach Economics of Regulation as well as Climate Law to our LLM students. I also teach Markets and Regulation to Bachelor students in our International and European Law LLB programme. And of course, I supervise multiple LLM (and Bachelor) theses each year. Interestingly, the older I become, the more satisfaction I get from teaching. Research is important but it also has to be disseminated: one way to make my research find its way to society is by discussing my findings in the international classrooms here in Groningen. I love to make our students enthusiastic about energy and climate law, and to make them think critically about its complexity and its inconsistencies.

What do you enjoy teaching about these course subjects?

In Economics of Regulation, I provide a conceptual framework for lawyers to analyze the economic underpinnings and economic consequences of energy and climate legislation. This opens up a new world for most students; I train them to see the law in a different light. I really enjoy doing this, especially because our LLM students appreciate it so much; they evaluate this course as one of the best in the entire Faculty. During the course students write draft exam papers on topics they have chosen themselves. They present their draft papers in an international discussion seminar where they get feedback from other students as well as from me. In this way, we place confidence in our students and we help them grow. Climate Law is another magnificent course in our LLM, especially because each subject is taught either by specialized researchers or by experienced lawyers from legal practice. This ensures that students get high-quality information from dedicated seniors who are working with certain climate laws every day. All of this helps to explain why our Energy and Climate Law LLM is rated among the Top 10 best energy law masters in the world.

How is the Energy and Climate Law programme unique compared to similar programmes elsewhere? 

Our Energy and Climate Law LLM programme is unique in three ways. First, we offer a set of courses in which energy law and climate law are combined, sometimes even within one course. Second, we study legislation throughout the entire energy chain against the background of the energy transition, covering both fossil fuels and renewables as well as emerging technologies, such as offshore hydrogen production or CO2 storage and reuse. Third, we have a very personal approach; we know all student names by heart and we quickly make them part of our research community, for instance by discussing new developments outside the classroom and going on excursions together. We are also very proud of the special PhD-LLM Study Group in Energy and Climate Law, in which our PhD students have taken the initiative to help LLM students improve their understanding of the relevant legislation, also in preparation for the exams. I believe this is unique in the world and it is a clear sign of our dedication and group spirit.

What career prospects do you think there could be for students who pursue careers in your specific legal field of expertise?

The career prospects for our LLM students have always been good, but over the last few years demand from the labor market has intensified immensely. I am amazed to see how employers increasingly approach us with meet & greets and internships for our Master students. There is a strong demand for energy and climate lawyers from Groningen. Most of our students get jobs in major law firms or in energy companies, while some of our students find work in governmental institutions, NGOs, or consultancy companies. And a few continue in academia as  PhD students. Our alumni stay in touch with us and with each other in various ways, including via our Energy and Climate Law Alumni Association.

Has the Covid-19 situation or any other recent international events affected the way in which experts in your field practice/operate their professions?

The Covid-19 pandemic is an external shock, both in a negative and positive way. It has caused death, sorrow, and loneliness, which is horrible, but it has also shown that working from home can be very productive and that some meetings can easily be held online. That said, we all miss human contact and people are social beings who want to meet in person, not via a computer screen. Many energy and climate experts see the pandemic as a warning sign. Covid-19 has highlighted our human vulnerability and global interconnectedness, which also characterize the problem of global warming. The pandemic is felt by many as an extra incentive to speed up the energy transition to avoid dangerous climate change.

Do you have any advice for students interested in pursuing your same field of legal expertise?

My first advice is: read a lot. A very easy way to stay informed about the latest energy and climate law research is by signing up to SSRN’s Energy Law & Policy eJournal and to SSRN’s Climate Change Law & Policy eJournal. My second advice is: check out what our graduates have to say about us, because the proof of the pudding is in the eating!

- Interview by: Dr. Chris Brennan, Marketing Advisor, Faculty of Law

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Interested in more information about the Energy and Climate Law LLM programme? You can ask questions directly to the Faculty by filling out our information request form.