CU-Boulder School of Law Professor Lakshman Guruswamy will address energy and the environment in the 31st annual Austin W. Scott Jr. Lecture Feb. 17 at 7 p.m. in the Fleming Law Building.
The lecture, titled "Energy and Environmental Security: A New Framework," is free and open to the public. A reception in the Moorhead Rutledge lounge will follow the lecture.
Guruswamy is the Nicholas Doman Professor of International Environmental Law, director of the law school's Energy Environment Security Initiative and an expert in international environmental law. He will discuss a new framework for understanding energy and environmental security and solutions to the energy and environmental crisis created by global reliance on fossil fuels, such as coal, oil and gas.
"The greatest environmental challenge of the 21st century is to respond to the burgeoning and legitimate demands for energy without destroying the planet," said Guruswamy. "The adverse environmental impact of the fossil fuel cycle from mining and extraction, to refinement, use and waste disposal, are incontrovertible.
"Deleterious health and environmental effects are serious consequences of global reliance on fossil fuels. It is essential to move from a hydrocarbon economy to a more diversified alternative energy economy based on renewable energy."
Professor Guruswamy also will describe how the Energy Environment Security Initiative will undertake a comprehensive evaluation of all international agreements dealing with energy. The initiative will perform a thorough analysis of more than 350 energy treaties and 500 atomic energy treaties to understand the extent to which the need for renewable energy has been or may be addressed.
For more information call (303) 492-8048 or visit the law school's calendar of events Web site at .