Climate-Induced Wildfires and Strengthening Resilience in Electricity Infrastructure

26 Pages Posted: 26 Sep 2022

See all articles by Rosemary Lyster

Rosemary Lyster

The University of Sydney - Faculty of Law

Daniel A. Farber

University of California, Berkeley - School of Law

Rory McFadden

University of Queensland - T.C. Beirne School of Law

Date Written: August 26, 2022

Abstract

In recent times, climate-induced disasters have overwhelmed many parts of the world destroying human and non-human communities and ecosystems. In this article, we focus on a unique type of infrastructure – electricity grids. We collate the latest climate science, relate it to electricity infrastructure and shine the light on the ways in which electricity infrastructure has been impacted by climate-induced wildfires in Australia and California. The two jurisdictions are comparable in many respects but illustrate different approaches to grid governance. They also conceptualize risk management differently, with Australia focusing on resilience as a standalone concept and California viewing resilience as only one aspect of climate change adaptation. We investigate the resilience strategies of both jurisdictions and identify the strategies, including technological, that are needed to build resilience in the sector.

Keywords: climate-induced wildfires, climate science, electricity infrastructure, renewable energy technologies, battery storage, building resilience separated

Suggested Citation

Lyster, Rosemary and Farber, Daniel A. and McFadden, Rory, Climate-Induced Wildfires and Strengthening Resilience in Electricity Infrastructure (August 26, 2022). Utrecht Law Review, Forthcoming, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4201501

Rosemary Lyster (Contact Author)

The University of Sydney - Faculty of Law ( email )

New Law Building, F10
The University of Sydney
Sydney, NSW 2006
Australia

Daniel A. Farber

University of California, Berkeley - School of Law ( email )

Boalt Hall
Room 894
Berkeley, CA 94720-7200
United States
510-642-0340 (Phone)
510-642-3728 (Fax)

Rory McFadden

University of Queensland - T.C. Beirne School of Law ( email )

Forgan Smith Building (1)
The University of Queensland
St Lucia, Queensland 4072
Australia

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
92
Abstract Views
477
Rank
506,051
PlumX Metrics